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. Easy To Install — Easy To Operate.
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For further information regarding the above system or any other ICE subsystems please
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ICE Limited, Littleton House, Littleton Road, Ashford, Middlesex, TW15 1UQ.
Tel: Ashford (07842) 47271/47171 Telex: 8952042 (ICE LTD G)
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PULLOUT
Micropaedia
Sound: Part 5
Concluding our opus on sound,
speech and music with more for
the popular micros.
REGULARS
Monitor 2
Problems precede launch of Sin¬
clair's Microdrive, page 2; CTA
suggests mail order bonding
scheme, page 3: Electronic mail
arrives for the Sirius, page 4; Intel
chips in with Xenix, page 5; CAD
design from Hewlett-Packard, page
6; Epsom HX2t>disk drives in. page
7; and lots more news, reports and
PCN Charts 10
Follow your favourite game and
micro
Random Access 13
Tell the world what you think
Routine Inquiries 14
With Pi Vs perambulating
helpline. Max Phillips
Microwaves 16
Got a useful tip? Spread it around a
51
- Franklin's
Tomb for the Dragon and Hummer
House of Horror for the Spectrum,
page SI Laaps and Bounds —
Jumpman for the Commodore 64
and J umping J ack for the Spectrum.
page 52. Space operas alien
invasions with Fourth Encounter
for the Vic and Cydons for the
Commodore 64. page 54.
ProgramCards 56
Games and utilities for the Spec¬
trum. Vic 20. Commodore 64 and
BBC micros
Readout 69
The new micro books
Databases 73
Buyers' guide to hardware
Game play
Clubnet 70
Contact points in the nation's user
groups
Billboard 79
Four pages of computing bargains
Quit/Datelines 88
Cover illustration by Terry Pastor
July 28-August 3,1983 Volume 1 No 21
PCN SPECIALS
Disks on Atari 19
To get the maximum use from your Atari you need a disk drive. Richard Hawes
reveals how to get the best from the system.
Micro on video
25
Geof Wheelwright explains the techniques required for storing your screen displays on
videotape.
PCN PRO-TEST: SOFTWARE
BBC Graphics 27
From computer art to computer aided design. Nigel Cross tests packages to make the
most of the Beeb’s graphics capabilities.
Newbrain assembler
32
Walter Knight continues his look at
machine code on the Newbrain with
^ a package to take the tedium out of
low-level coding.
PCN PRO-TEST: PERIPHERALS
Turn turtle
Real turtles mean more than graphics — they
open up the field of robotics too. Ian
Scales tests a new beast that hooks up to the
Sinclair machines and the BBC.
Oric in print
34
Explore the possibilities of print with the new printer plotter for the Oric. David Janda
puts pen to paper.
Daisywheeling
Barry Miles looks at yet another contender
in the high quality/medium price print stakes.
PCN PRO-TEST: HARDW/...-
ir»
Dream Machine
Everyone, at some time, has wished for an improvement
to some aspect of their micro. Richard King goes a step further
and argues for a complete rethink about the way
micros are designed and built.
CHARACTER SET
_.wCyndy Mile
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■rM.it Phillip* Peripheral* editor I an Seale* L
k Floyd Saycr* Art issuta—I Dolores Fjirmjn
Whcchs right W
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Wcndic Pear- - Editor s assistant 11 ,rrirt Arnold Art dir*
Fiona Collier PuMrshinf manner Mark Fiv n Publish,.* as
Hum. r Saieeeiocwttvct Robert Stallibi
IbyVNU Business Publications. Evelyn House. 62 Oxford Si reel London Wl A 2HG©VNU IWJ Nomaicn.ilmat herepn
rom the copyright holders Photoscfhv Quickset. IH4-1 R6 Old Si reel. London EC I Printed by Chase Web Offset. Si Au
4 Bruton Road. London SWV. 01-7334444 Registered at the PO as a newspaper
Hanafing editor Peter Worlock Sab editor J o hn Lctticc
h.ir.l K p Software edlter Shirley Fawcett Hi
m Jim DantK- Art *4tor David Robinso
taat lane C.rcc n ADVERTISING Adverthemeot director
.*. Matthew Parrott. Beilina Williams. Ian Whorlcv.
rnquirtee ( oilStcscn* Subscription address Frith
162 Oxford Street London W IA 21IG 01-323 3211
induced in whole or in pari without w ritten
kUstell. Cornwall Distributed by Seymour
PCN JULY 2H-AUGUST3. IWO
[i]k 11UJ
Microdrive
The long-awaited Sinclair Micro¬
drives are set to be unveiled at noon
today, despite reports that pre-
production models of the drives
were plagued with problems.
A Sinclair spokesman has de¬
clined to comment on any potential
problems, but according to a PCS
source who has used pre-
production versions of the Microd¬
rive:
• There are still problems with the
RS232 interface on the Microdrive
expansion module;
• The Spectrum's power supply
may not be powerful enough to run
more than one Microdrive;
• The £40 Microdriscs have no
random access; only limited serial
access—so that files arc stored on a
tape loop, and must be designated
as INPUT or OUTPUT files;
# The Microdrive manual doesn't
specify how many files a Microdrive
can hold — only that it’s 100K per
drive;
# Microdrivcs and the proposed
Spectrum networking system both
use up a chunk of the Spectrum's
memory and some existing prog¬
rams might not run without mod¬
ification;
# The £30 interface module
needed to run the Microdrive
comes equipped with a second
operating system: the existing 0/5
here
won’t support Microdrive com¬
mands
But the source added that in
terms of access the Microdrives live
up fully to what Sinclair has always
claimed. The drives apparently can
access data in 3.S seconds and
handle storage of both Basic and
machine code programs
Today's launch will show what
success Sinclair has had in sorting
out the problems. Aside from the
trouble with the RS232. which is
apparently a recently discovered
problem, the power supply difficul¬
ty could be solved by adding a
separate power supply for the
Microdrive expansion module.
Sord cuts
As the home computer price war
hots up. a Japanese contender has
hit back with price cuts on its own—
the Sord M5
With £40 knocked off its price
you can now pick up the M5 for
£149.95. The machine will be selling
at the same price as Vic 20. Atari
400andT199/4A. And although the
M5s memory seems small com¬
pared to other micros it offers some
good facilities (PCS Pro- Test. Issue
12 ).
Users who bought an M5 at its
original price of £189.95 will also
benefit from the price reduction.
Go back to the shop with some
proof of purchase and you'll get a
free Basic G language package
worth £35.
US Sinclairs unveiled
Timex has announced details of the
new Amcrican-look Sinclairs. The
cooly received American ZX81
(the TS1000) will be upgraded to
the Timex TS1500. The ZX Spec¬
trum will make its long overdue
debut as the Timex TS2000.
The TS2000 has a number of
changes from the British version.
Obvious additions are a full size
spacebar, cartridge socket and joy¬
stick ports. Inside, an additional 8K
ROM provides a handful of extras
for Basic, hopefully without ruining
compatibility with existing soft¬
ware. Prices will be S150 for the 16K
RAM version and $200 for the 48K
model.
The 1500isaZX81 in Spectrum's
clothing. It has a Spectrum style
keyboard and a standard 16K
RAM. upgradable to 32K. Car¬
tridge software is planned and the
price will be around $80
The only thing left unsaid is the
availability date. They will prob¬
ably hit American stores in August
or September
Acornsoft goes multilingual
Multi lingual BBC buffs can stride
out as software developers. A fistful
of new Acornsoft languages have
finally been released
And Acornsoft is promising an
even richer range of lanugagcs for
the National Semiconductor 16032
16-bit add-on processor when it
comes out later this year.
BCPL is freshly out of Acornsoft,
along with the long-awaited text¬
books to go with the recent Lisp and
Forth launches. Yet to come are
Fortran, two versions of Pascal.
Comal. Prolog, two versions of
Logo, and one or two of the more
esoteric languages such as MU1
and Cesil.
Jeremy Bennett, who currently
heads the Acornsoft language divi¬
sion. said that the Nat Semi 16032
will be accompanied by as many as
20 different languages
'A BBC system with the second
processor and a hard disk will be
more powerful in terms of sheer
processing power than a DEC V AX
750'. said Mr Bennett So with that
kind of throughput, people will
expect to be able to use the
languages they have become accus¬
tomed to and prefer.’
The new BCPL, which is for the
existing6502 processor, is a systems
programming language which
Acornsoft is pitching chiefly at
commercial and systems software
developers.
It comes on ROM only, and sells
for £99.95 as a complete package of
ROM chip, compiler on disk,
screen editor, assembler and va¬
rious tools and utilities. The pack¬
age also includes the user guide,
which is ready in time for the
language's launch. The compiler
was written by Richards Computer
Products.
Mr Bennett said that Acornsoft is
using the BCPL to develop its
Fortran Compiler for the 6502,
w hich should be ready by the end of
the year. Before then, a cassette or
disk -based version of Pascal S is due
— Niklaus Wirth's teaching subset
of the language.
Marathon plan
A row of perspiring micros will be
trotting round endless loops for
seven days in a marathon at Lon¬
don's World Trade Centre. The aim
is to find the most reliable 16-bit
micro of them all.
PCN will be there to referee the
contest, the London Computer
Marathon, which has been organ¬
ised by Micro. Networks — the
company that distributes the
SamuraiS 16.
The Samurai will be entering the
contest, of course, as will 16-bit
heavyweights from the stables of
Olivetti. Logica. Sage. Tandy.
Wang. Triumph Adler, and Corn-
art. But IBM and ACT Sirius have
decided not to give their official
blessing
Richard King. PC Vs features
editor, will be keeping a close eye
on the contestants in case of foul
play and says that micros that stop
running for any reason during the
seven days will get a black mark on
their score card.
The starting gun will be fired at
midday. August 10.
The micros will be performing a
fairly simple, repetitious task con¬
tinuously for a week such as sorting
and re-sorting a large file. They’ll be
scrutinised not only for the number
of breakdowns, but also for the
number of times the program is
completed Worn-out disks caused
by excessive head pressure and
buckled disks because of over¬
heated disk drives are two possible
causes of breakdowns during the
contest. Particularly if there's still a
PCN JULY 28-AUGUST 3.1983
PCN MONITOR r~
Postal protection
By Gael Wheehmgtrt
The Computer Trades Association
is developing a plan to protect
consumers against mail-order soft¬
ware houses that don't deliver the
goods.
Association general secretary
Nigel Backhurst said he would like
to see all software houses take out
bonds with insurance companies to
ensure that suppliers meet their
orders within 56 days or return the
customers' money. And his associa¬
tion has commissioned a feasibility
study from a group of insurance
brokers in the hopes of launching
the bonding scheme this autumn.
‘We have over 100 complaints on
file — and I suspect that ’s the tip of
the iceberg,' said Mr Backhurst.
'And right now there's no way we
can deal with it.’
He cited the extreme example of
one schoolboy who recently took in
£10,000 worth of mail orders for his
cottage software business and then
simply didn't fulfill the orders And
because the boy is under age, he
can't be prosecuted and there is
currently no way for customers to
get their money back.
Mr Backhurst said that under his
proposed bonding scheme, all mail
order software houses would have
to pul up a certain amount of money
as an insurance bond against their
ability to fulfill orders — but added
that the price could be as little as£50
for small operations.
And he has started polling com¬
puter magazines in the hope of
getting agreements that prevent
non-bonded mail order houses
from advertising. Does he think this
will prove unfair to small mail-order
operations?
If they can't afford to be bonded.
then they shouldn’t be in the mail
order field,'he said.
The bonding operation would
have to be run independently of all
trade associations — including the
CTA — although he suggested that
many participants would probably
be members of a trade association
anyway.
Mr Backhurst hopes to have the
report from his insurance brokers
by September. 'At the moment, it’s
very much an exploratory idea.
Towards the end of September well
try and get a conference together of
Future
prediction
Two versions of the Future FX30
computer plus a tape backup will be
launched in September at the
European Computer Tradc Forum.
Birmingham
The FX30 Slimline, at a starting
price of £3,350. has 5 or 10
megabytes of storage and a 'slim¬
line' Winchester disk. Concurrent
CP/M will be available at extra cost.
the leading mail order houses and
the major magazines.'
Mr Backhurst also said he’d like
to see mail order computer mer¬
chants bonded so that when people
send off deposits for computers
they're supposed to receive in the
mail, those deposits would also be
guaranteed if goods are not re¬
ceived within 56days. He suggested
56 days as the waiting period
because it gives the supplier twice
the usual time to meet the order
He suggested that part of the
recent rise in mail order problems
can be attributed to the number of
young entrepreneurs entering the
market with little experience.
The standard FX30 will give 50
Mb of storage and has a 20 Mb tape
backup. Buying both will cost
£4,772.50. and they should be'
available in September
But you won't have to wait till
then for an FX20, which should be
in stock at 65 Future computer
dealers now.
Each FX20 will be sold with an
IMPS (Interactive Modelling and
Planning System) financial plan¬
ning and spreadsheet package
worth £322, plus Spellbinder, the
word processor.
Newbrain printer link
plugs a loophole
In an effort to fill up the cracks in the
Newbrain edifice, such as non¬
delivery of the ‘official’ printer.
Kuma Computers has launched a
small utility to allow several com¬
mon printers to act as substitute.
N-Dump is a machine code
program which allows you to dump
out the graphics image on the
screen, producing a hard-copy ver¬
sion on the printer.
It obeys the same commands as
the graphics screen, and allows
magnification of either or both
axes. The range of printers catered
for includes the Shinwa CP-80 and
Epson's MX and FX80.
The routine has a few limitations,
however . . . It can only be used
from Basic, since it follows the
CALL DUMP. NN. NN nn
format. which works in conjunction
with the program-pointer
Another restriction is that the
routine is not relocatable
N-Dump costs £16.70 from
Kuma Computers on Maidenhead
(0628)71778.
Beeb on top
Super expansion system
for the Spectrum
U-Micros, prolific producer of Ap¬
ple cards, has moved into the
Spectrum add-on business. USP is
an expansion system, based on a
four-slot motherboard, to let you
plug all sorts of gubbins into your
Spectrum.
First offerings include a hobby/
prototyping board and an addition¬
al three-slot expansion board.
There's a dual serial port for £34.50
with software providing LPRINT,
LLIST and a dumb terminal ability.
USP I/O (£29.90) is a general
purpose parallel port. An add-on
kit (USP-CENT) provides a cable
and software to let you use this to
drive Centronics printers.
USP may not be as neat as
Basicare's stacking rival but U-
Micros (tel: 0925 54117) has gone a
long way to giving the Spectrum an
Apple-like growth path. Socxpcct a
lot of goodies in the pipeline.
For the first time in three months
the Sinclair Spectrum has been
knocked off its perch as Britain's
top-selling micro.
In the latest PCN Charts the
Spectrum loses its place to the BBC
Model B. In the middle of a fierce
price war the BBC machine, which
costs a mere £300 more than a 16K
Spectrum, has proved to be the
most popular machine in the coun¬
try in mid-July.
According to PON's researcher
MRIB. Acorn's distribution is
largely responsible for its pushing
Sinclair's into second place. ‘BBC
distribution is very good.' said an
MRIB spokesman, ‘it has been as
steady as ever over the past few
weeks. Sinclair had a very good
early summer as far as sales are
concerned and a lot of shops may be
re-ordering, and be temporarily out
of stock.'
The spokesman also suggested
that Sinclair's promotional push
following its price cuts may have run
out of steam, but he predicted that
the Spectrum would be back on top
within weeks. ‘The charts this week
are based on very dose figures
indeed.’ he said.
PCN JULY 28-AUGUST 3.1W3
Il ll II —
IBM goes
Japanning
for gold
By Serge Powell
The Japanese react with unfeigned bafflement to the suggestion that
their purpose in life is to overwhelm foreign markets and to undermine
foreign industry. They Just don’t relate to the image Westerners have of
them — an army of ants stripping the local vegetation and putting
Hondas and Sanyos in its place.
This image is particularly strong in the US, where Japan Inc is
regarded with something that can only be described as paranoia in the
automobile industry and the computer business. So It is particularly
interesting to see the US fighting back, and on Japanese home ground.
In the vanguard of the US counter attack is none other than IBM.
which is by no means the dominant force in Japan that It is almost
everywhere else. But its guerilla activity Is being abetted by another US
company, Computeriand, and the link between the two is purely
East has met West in this relationship. A sophisticated retail system
attention to local conditions that is quite outstanding.
The product is not the IBM PC.
The new IBM system is called the 5550. K was first announced here
earlier this year but now as It starts to appear it promises to make quite
K is capable of handling the complexity of written Japanese as well
as, if not better than, many of the domestic models. Where basic
literacy is concerned this means having a character set that includes
two alphabets of 52 characters each and another 2,000 ideograms, all
from a modified typewriter keyboard.
For business applications, which is where IBM would hope to make
its biggest splash, between 6,000 and 8,000 characters of varying
complexity are necessary and the 5550 takes them in its stride, as
indeed do most of the native systems. K is in the other features that it
Built around an Intel 8086 it has 256K of RAM and you can hang up to
three 640K floppy drives or an 8.1Mb hard disk with diskette back-up.
Its keyboard has 61 data keys and 63 function keys. Output features
include eight colours for text and four for graphics. The software
available on the machine includes Japanese language word processing,
a spreadsheet, and other business applications.
As it stands the machine would be a formidable competitor for
front-runner NEC and for the group (including Fujitsu and Hitachi) that
contends for second place. But the key to the 5550's success, and the
message to other manufacturers looking for a niche in the Japanese
market, lies in the involvement of Japanese firms in its development and
It is no secret that IBM has worked very closely with Matsushita and
Oki in the production of the unit, as it did in the production of the PC. The
difference that this tie-up makes to the 5550’s reputation is all
important; it combines IBM's shrewdness with Japanese quality
control.
So where does Computeriand come in? The IBM 5550’s distribution
in Japan is being orchestrated by a medium-sized trading company,
Kane-Matsugosho, and this same company paved the way for
Computeriand's entry into the country. The arrival of this US retailing
giant was long overdue, because one of the saddest features of the
Japanese micro business has been the state of retailing.
Even in outlets for computers and related products the staff tend to
lack a certain savvy. For Computeriand, which has built a worldwide
reputation on the extent of its service and the knowledgeability of its
staff, the situation is ripe for it to move in.
In seven months it has opened 15 stores and within two years or so it
expects to have 250. For all its US roots, Computeriand is wearing a
Japanese face here. Its partner, Kane, has all the right connections in
Government and banking circles, and individuals in business are likely
ACT mails
via Apricot
Sirius owners will be the first to get
their hands on Micromail, an elec¬
tronic mail service launched by
ACT last week for use on the Sirius.
Apricot, and soon the IBM PC.
Apricot isn't due to reach dealers
until October, by which time the
system should be available for the
IBM. ACT says the service will
deliver letters for less than the cost
of a second class stamp.
Based on BritishTcIccom'sTele-
com Gold network. Micromail
costs £316.25 for a small modem
card which plugs inside the compu¬
ter. disk-based software which
communicates over the telephone
lines, and the annual subscription.
Micromail software on its own for
use with other tnodcms/acoustic
couplers is £109.25. and ACT says
that the system takes only one hour
to get used to.
Tony Bryan, managing director
of ACT. said: 'We don't intend to
take over the telex market—we are
aiming at small business users.
Security lakes the form of a person¬
al password, we register you when
you buy the package, and you can
transmit an A4 letter of400 words in
less than one minute at a peak rate
price of I7p long distance and I5p
within London.’
The cheap rate — before Sam and
after 7pm — is 3.5p a minute.
Mi cr omaH — a pillar box on your dosk
Information storage costs 20p per
unit (=2000 characters) per month.
and means you can hold over
correspondence for transmission.
The system is claimed to deliver
letters to the recipient's mailbox in
seconds, and you can request an
immediate reply to urgent mail An
optional radio pager can warn of
incoming messages
Micromail can produce 500 auto¬
matic copies of each letter and
provides an electronic diary as well
as a noticcboard for important
messages It amends text on the
spot and has send-read-scan com¬
mands as well as a spelling check
Mr Bryan says that ACT dealers
should receive the package in the
next two weeks.
Voltmace
moves to
joystick set
Some of the hand spans that
keyboard-controlled games de¬
mand of you would tax a concert
pianist. But there are moves afoot
to translate keyboard functions in
games programs to joystick control.
The latest supplier to take this
route is Voltmace. maker of the
Delta 14 handsets for the BBC
micro. In future all deliveries of the
handsets will come with a listing
that will transfer the functions of the
keyboard to the joystick or keypad
of the Delta 14. The idea is that
those programs that weren’t written
By way of an example. Acorn's
Meteors uses caps lock for rotate
left' and control for 'rotate right - .
Tire* is return, ‘thrust’ is the shift
key. and a careless contact with the
space bar puts you in hyperspacc'
After running Voltmace'* program
the joystick and three function
buttons can take over from the
keyboard.
The software handles a total of 16
keyboard functions, and it will work
with any program that uses Inkey or
Osbytc signals to detect key de¬
pressions.
The handsets themselves cost
£10.95. and an adaptor box adds
£13.95 to this
Voltmace is on Baldock (0462)
894410
£300, tfca bfch rosatutton Ranter £550.
Catron is an Cavantiy 102031 21247.
PCN JULY 28-AUGUST 3. IW3
PCN MONITOR
Intel boosts Xenix
In a move which brings the afford¬
able super-computer a step nearer.
Intel has announced a version of the
Xenix operating system for its
iAPX 286 series of chips.
The company had publicly
thrown its weight behind the Xenix
operating system last year when it
said it was planning an operating
system on a chip, the system in
question being Unix
It now transpires that it has
chosen to develop Xenix 286 in
conjunction with Microsoft's ver¬
sion. and in the process has en¬
hanced the design to make the
system attractive to commercial
users.
These extras include functions to
recover data which may have been
damaged by a loss of power, and
operator-security in the form of
record and file locking, which
should prevent unauthorised peo¬
ple tampering with restricted data.
In a further move designed to
attract commercial systems houses
and OEM companies, it has in¬
cluded driver programs for five
controller boards, w hich by provid¬
ing plug-up and go' I/O support
should make development times
much shorter, thus reducing costs.
Xenix 286 is a derivative of Bell
Labs' Version 7 Unix, designed to
run on microprocessors, and sup¬
porting multi-tasking with multiple
users. It is compatible with earlier
versionsof Microsoft's Xenix which
run on the 8086 processor, so
software already developed will still
be useable, with the new system.
However, from what the com¬
pany says, it would seem well worth
converting to the newer system. It is
said to run from three to five times
faster, which with several users will
make a big difference in produc¬
tivity.
Naturally, an iAPX 286 running
Xenix 286'produces . . one of the
fastest commercial microcomputer
operating systems available' With
the addition of an 80287 maths
processor and memory manage¬
ment Intel could well be right.
speech into existing programs with-
out using up massive amounts of
memory
Included with the speech synth¬
esiser arc demonstration and de¬
velopment programs on cassette
and full software instructions The
instructions supplied explain how
to string together individual speech
sounds (allophoncs) to produce
your words. As there are only 64
allophones to choose from words
can be assembled at speed.
Smartmouth comes with one
year's full warranty and is available
from Tcchnomatic Ltd. (01) 452
1500.
Atari brings micro summer
camps into the cities
Most computer camps aim to give
you micro training combined with
outdoor activities and fresh air. But
40 one-week camps, organised by
local groups, will put the computer
camp idea into inner city areas this
summer.
Children between nine and 16
years will be able to join in the
activities in most UK cities, and the
charges will be nominal in most
cases.
Atari is donating a total of more
than 100 Atari 800 systems for the
London camps, which will be held
in Kentish Town. Greenwich,
Edmonton. Westminster. Haring¬
ey, Leytonstonc. and the dock¬
lands.
The camps aren't residential, but
most will provide a lunch everyday.
The training will cover program¬
ming techniques and it will aim to
give some insight into how compu¬
ters can help you in education and
employment.
The original idea for the ca
came from the national charity
I ntcr-Action Trust. which is on (01)
267 9421.
Apocalypse
now aids
Aquarius
The imminent launch of Mattel's
Aquarius ( PCN. issue 20) will have
a number of software releases
trailing in its wake.
Apocalypse Software promises
to have arcade games and semi-
cducational programs ready for the
machine's launch. The first re¬
leases. which Apocalypse says will
include such old favourites as
Breakout, will be for the unex¬
panded version of the system
But Apocalypse plans to move
beyond cassette-based games into
languages.
Its first products for the
Aquarius, due in three weeks' time,
will cost between £8 and £10.
Mwaia e and. Ym can Mite am
through a aarlal or pnraM i
Oatec la an Ml-Ml 2M1
Everyone wins
Everyone came away as a winner at
the Lasky's/Daily Express Com¬
petition last week, when eight
schools shared £20.000 worth of
micro equipment.
The schools received four first
prizes of £3.500 and four second
prizes of £1,500 of computing
equipment to be selected from
Lasky's stores.
In the first heat of the competi¬
tion schools were asked to send in
essays and illustrations describing
the home of the future. Then at the
showdown at the Westmoreland
Hotel, in London, pupils represent¬
ing the schools were asked to design
and decorate their idea of a family
home in the year 2000 using Atari
800 computers with A810 disk
drive, a Pointmaster joystick and
Micropainter software.
Beeb talks
The BBC Micro's tendency to be
seen but not heard is changing
rapidly as another speech synthesis¬
er is launched (PCN. issue 20).
Selling at £37 plus VAT, Smart-
mouth is a small unit that sits
alongside the BBC. It has its own
loudspeaker, as well as an auxiliary
audio output socket.
The unit doesn't need any solder¬
ing and connects to the user port.
And due to its low memory require¬
ments (using four to eight bytes per
word), it's now possible to put
Riva jets ink
The buzzsaw noise of a dot matrix
printer isn't to anybody's taste but
technology can be relied upon to
come up with a silent alternative.
Ink-jet dot matrix devices are in
general faster, quieter, more pre¬
cise and more expensive, with the
added drawback that they can’t
produce multiple copies. But Riva
Terminals is backing its new PT88i
from Siemens with an interesting
statistic: the West German manu¬
facturer has found that only 60 per
cent of micro users need multiple
copies.
If you find yourself in this 60 per
cent, the PT88i could be worth
looking at. It has bi-directional
printing at 150 cps. and it operates
via serial or parallel interfaces on
most popular micros. Riva expects
it to catch the eye principally of
people running small businesses.
The printer costs £595 and Riva
Terminals is on Woking (04862)
71001.
PCN JULY 28-AUGUST 3.19H3
H-P source for graphic design
Technical jobs that need the power
of a Motorola 6800 can now be
tackled by a desk-top system from
Hewlett-Packard
The machine is called the H-P
Model 16. Hewlett-Packard distri¬
butors are selling it in packaged
form with various graphics and
computer-aided design tools. The
basic system has 540K of memory
that can grow to 4.6Mb with an
optional card cage; you can add
3.Sin Sony microfloppies or Win¬
chester disks that hold up to 10Mb.
The peripherals offered with the
Model 16 reflect the expected kind
of us£s—graphics plotters, tablets,
and printers. Distributor Crcllon
Microsystems is also offering soft¬
ware for AC circuit analysis, digital
filter design, numerical analysis,
and other scientific jobs.
The unit’s graphics output has
300 by 400 pixels and an optional
312 by 312 display. Standard lan¬
guages are HP Basic, Pascal.
Assembler, Fortran 77 and Multi-
Forth.
A system with 5I2K. graphics.
Basic 2.0 and twin 3Viin floppies
will set you back about £6,000 once
VAT is taken into account.
IMPROVE YOUR SCORES!
Teach yourself Applesoft
with new US packages
[sld«i for Apple users.
A couple of new Applesoft Basic
programming aids have made their
way from the US to British shores
How to Program in Applesoft
Basic takes you from basic prog¬
ramming up to advanced high
resolution graphics in 12 self-paced
lessons. The Programmer's Work¬
shop for Applesoft Basic gives a
Basic programmer a chance to have
a bash at structured programming.
Beginners, the company says,
will get the best out of the package
from its step-by-step introduction
and the library of useful subroutines
which the Framework program
provides. Experienced users will
find the structured approach to
Basic will help them design and
write better-organised code
Both packages cost £39.20 and
are available from Pete and Pam
Computers. 0706-227011.
Welcome to the world of ATARI with Home Entertain¬
ment Atari Center - your dedicated ATARI dealer!
Come and visit our Center, you will be astonished at
our comprehensive range of hardware, software,
books and periodicals.
If you wish to phone or write we offer a complete mail
order service, and accept all major credit cards on tele¬
phoned orders.
Any ATARI products which are generally available in
the UK are available from your Center-if we don’t
stock it we'll get it for you at no extra cost, and no
deposit required. This includes special orders for im¬
ported and pre-UK release items
Right now we are importing the following magazines
direct from the US ANTIC. ANALOG, COMPUTE'
and SOFTSIDE which is currently available only
through us and is renowned for its listing and depth
of reviews.
We think you’ll find our service second to none. We’re
all ATARI enthusiasts dedicated to the cause.
Home Entertainment atari center
212-212 BroadStrwlB.rminKhdm BIS 1AY 021-643 9100
•Horn* EntrrtJinmrnt Lid >» in independent deiler in Alin jnd imociited product'
Alin Alin 400 jnd Alin AVire Ifidemifk' ot Alin IntefnilmnillUkl Lid
14 SUPERB GAMES NOW WORK
WITH YOUR KEMPSTON JOYSTICK
Spectres
Penetrator
Horace Goes Skiing
Invaders
Gulpman
Arcadia
Molar Maul
3DTanx
Frenzy
Escape
Hungry Horace
Painter
Spawn of Evil
Flight Simulator
Available from your nearest computer dealer
or direct from
FFprogram factory
39 Railway Rd. Darwen Tel. (0254) 776677
Trade distribution by:
PCS □ISTRlBUTlDfl
Umt 6, Scotshaw Brook. Branch Road.
Lower Darwen. Darwen BB3 OPR
TeL (0254)691211
Entertainment JtarI NEWS
PCN JULY 28-AUGUST 3.1983
iLkikJ
HX20 disk devised
Epson has always presented its
HX20 as a business machine but it
has taken an outsider to supply the
missing ingredient, disk drives.
Maidenhead systems house
Kuma has released the drives. It has
previously specialised in software
for the Epson machine and has
extended this to produce an operat¬
ing system to go with them.
For £572.70 you get the dual
drives, disk operating system and
Basic. giving you 655K of formatted
storage.
Epson is currently putting the
finishing touches toils own disks—
software is being prepared before
an official launch. According to an
Epson spokeswoman the devices
are not yet available in sufficient
quantity to go on sale in the UK.
Kuma has also produced the long
awaited Deskmastcr 5 — also for
the Epson ( PCN , issue 9). The last
of the Deskmaster scries to mater¬
ialise is described by Kuma as an
enhanced communications pack¬
age' which provides editing facili¬
ties. For example, this £45.45
package enables you to prepare text
before you go on-line to an electro¬
nic mailbox.
And for anyone needing a word
processor, the company has pro¬
duced a low cost package based on
the Sharp MZHOA For £862.50you
get an MZ80A micro. Shinwa
printer, interface card, paper and
cassettes.
Kuma is on (0628) 71778.
Mouse comes out of traps
A mouse from Tclevideo should be
on the loose this autumn, priced at
£103.45 and specifically for use on
the company's 8 and 16-bit business
computer systems.
Tclevideo spokesman Sam
White said: ‘The mouse will enable
you to alter display data on the
screen without using keyboard
commands, and will be good for
word and graphics processing,
spreadsheets etc.'
The race to deliver a working
mouse is moving into the home
straight. Microsoft's £140 mouse
isn't available as yet, and Texas
Instruments is still working on its
own version.
Peach packs pass test
Zenith Data Systems has made sure
that business users will be able to
buy tested software to run on their
Z100 micros by putting Peachtree
packages on to the system.
The system implemented goes
under the collective title of Peach
5000 It runs under MSDOS (Z-
DOS in Zenith parlance) and
includes a word processor, financial
planner, and database.
Zenith dealers will be carrying
the Peach 5000 series and it »ill cost
you £392 Sweetening the pill are
ten floppy disks and a utility
program to convert Wordstar files
Zenith Data Systems is on
Gloucester (0452) 29451.
serial j*
'nterf/ce ”
of rto* Mu. and parity and to adapt KmII to
The Sad-Teaching Serial Interface to available hr-
W Inchon bee list r. 3a. 0-5*00 Wuppertal 2. West &
GCC (Cambridge) Ud
ALL PRICES INCLUSIVE OF V AT.
NEW DFS (ANCOM) with utilities disc and manual
£34.45
COMPLETE DISC INTERFACE KIT (inc of
Ancom DFS with utilities disc and manual) £103.50
BBC MODELS
BBC Model A
BBC Model B
BBC Disc Interface Kit
BBC Disc Interface Kit + 1.2
BBC A to B Upgrade Kit
BBC Memory Upgrade (8 x 4816-100ns)
BBC Model B + Disc Interface
Wordwise
BBC COMPATIBLE DISC DRIVES
TEAC SLIMLINE
F D 55 A 40 Track Single Sided 100k
FD 55B 40 Track Double Sided 200k
FD 55E 80 Track Single Sided 200k
FD 55F 80 Track Double Sided400k
FD 55 A2 Track Single Sided Twin 200k
FD 55E2 80 Track Single Sided Twin400k
FD 55F2 80 Track Double Sided Twin800k
80-40track swilchable + PSU
Single Drive 40Track (100k) + PSU
Dual Drives 40 Track S S (200k) + PSU
Single Dnve80TrackS S(200k) + PSU
* ALL PRICES INCLUSIVE OF VAT
* Stock subject to prior sale
£299.60
£399 00
£78 77
£90 00
£48 00
£24 50
£490 00
£44 85
£228 00
£270 25
£241.50
£250 00
£345 00
£454 25
£609 50
£609 50
£228 00
£380 00
£299 00
PLEASE PHONE FOR P&P CHARGES
Single Drive 80 Track D S (400k) + PSU
Dual Drives 80 Track D S (800k) + PSU
Disc Drive Cables (single)
Disc Drive Cables (dual)
MONITORS
KAGA RGB 1 ¥ Colour
BMC Green Screen
Sanyo 14" Colour
PRINTERS
SeikoshaGPIOOA
SeikoshaGP 100 V
SeikoshaGP250X
Epson FX 80 ST 3
Epson RX80
CTICP80*NEW
NECPL8023-C
DP510
Printer Cable for BBC
ZX SINCLAIR
ZX81 Home Computer
ZX8116k RAM Pack (Memotech)
ZX Spectrum 16k
ZX Spectrum 48k
ZX Spectrum 16k-48k memory upgrade
ORIC
48k One
JUPITER ACE NOW IN STOCK
* PLEASE PHONE FOR P&P CHARGES * E&OE
£390.00
£699 00
£14.00
£15.00
£295.00
£ 110.00
£295.00
£230.00
£270 00
£316.00
£440.00
£330.00
£345.00
£340 00
£34500
£ 11.00
£49 95
£28.75
£99 95
£129 95
£24.00
£169.00
GCC (CAMBRIDGE) LIMITED
66 HIGH STREET, SAWSTON, CAMBRIDGE CB2 4BG
TEL: 0223 835330 (2 lines) TELEX: 817672
PCN JULY 2S-AUGUST 3.I9R3
hhhhhh
■pkli I L 1 J w 11 L»J
Drawing on the Sirius
Designers and draughtsmen can
ditch conventional drawing board
methods and pick up a computer-
aided design system. ESS Draw,
from Anglia Business Computers.
The system runs on a 256K Sirius
and costs £8(X). It is aimed at
applications that include
architectural drawings, kitchen de¬
sign. mechanical drawings,
schematics, flow diagrams and so
on.
ESS Draw allows the user to
create drawings of any size or scale
Drawings can be stored on disk and
can be output on a plotter or printer
at any point during the drawing
process.
Text of any size can be inserted on
the drawings at any position and a
window and zoom facility allows
working on the drawing at any level
of detail. Drawn objects can be
moved, copied, modified, deleted,
rotated and scaled.
The package is written in a
mixture of Fortran and 8088
Assembler and runs under the
MSDOS operating system. In addi¬
tion. the software is command
driven with two key commands.
Two other new packages the
creatively minded can look at are
ESS Plot and ESS PCB Both
packages are written in the same
languages and run under the same
operating system as ESS Draw.
ESS PCB costs £ 1. 120 and is a self
contained system produced as an
aid to the design and manufacture
of printed circuit board artwork.
ESS Plot is a graphics package
designed for both the business and
scientific user. Selling at £340. it can
be used on a stand alone basis or
data can be generated from other
programs in standard ASCII
format.
Contact Anglia Business Com-
puters. 0223 315580
Continental
confidence
Is there something about the way
that Continentals make floppy
disks? The French manufacturer
Rhonc-Poulcnc has now followed
the lead of BASF, from West
Germany, in offering a lifetime
guarantee on its floppies
The deal offered by Rhone-
Poulcnc means that any customer
who finds a fault caused cither by
the materials or the workmanship
on a Flexcttc floppy disk will be
entitled to have it replaced free,
regardless of when it was bought.
Rhonc-Poulcnc produces Kin and
5'/on floppies, single and double
sided and single or double density,
in the Flexcttc range. The disks arc
polyester based and specially
coated to give a uniform surface
Rhonc-Poulcnc can be contacted
in the UK on (0582) 605551.
ATARI SAFARI —
URTMCth*
Beeb fivesome
Natural summit for IBM PC
The mainframe software company
Adabas is aiming to take some of
the sting out of data processing for
the personal computer user with a
product to link the IBM PC to an
IBM mainframe.
It isn’t the first to try this tack —
Cullinane and Cincom have also
gone down the same road. Adabas
claims that the combination of its
database management system and
its Natural programming language
will be what makes the difference
Natural is a language of the type
known as fourth generation’ It is
intended for non-experts and is
supposed to turn them into prog¬
rammers. By putting it at the
disposal of those of you with an IBM
PC Adabas reckons to give you the
resources of the mainframe net¬
work without the headaches of
large-scale data administration or
the overheads of a programming
department
As a tool to increase the produc¬
tivity of executives with PCs on
their desks you might look askance
at this But as another string to the
PC’s bow in general applications it
could be worth looking at.
Adabas is on (0332) 372533.
New out from software house
Quicksilva arc five games for the
Spectrum and an Art Design prog¬
ram for the BBC Model B
Bccb-Art at £14.95 uses the
BBC's graphics capability and acts
as a sister program to the company s
Music Processor.
Using Bccb-Art. you can put
lines or shapes on to the screen
using a joystick or cursor keys. You
can use all 16 colours in mode 2 and
can save the picture on cassette for
reloading later.
3D Strategy for the Spectrum is
based on 3D noughts and crosses.
Like all the new Spectrum prog¬
rams from Quicksilva. it costs
£6 95
Aquaplane is an arcade game for
water-borne adventurers. Xadom,
another arcade game, involves
avoiding Watldogs. Vampbats and
Antimattoids as well as fighting
with Vibe Vipers. Num Skulls and
Cvbots. Velnor 's Lair is a dungeons
and dragons style adventure game.
Smugglers Cove involves looking
for the inevitable treasure.
Director Mark Eyles says these
programs can be bought in all main
outlets such as Smiths. Boots and
Lasky’s as well as small retail shops.
In the future, some record shops
should stock these programs, now
that CBS has become the exclusive
manufacturer and distributor of
Quicksilva’s range in the UK.
PCN JULY 2K-AUGUST 3. 1983
QUESTION
WHERE CAN I BUY
NEWBRAIN ‘A' 32K
NEWBRAIN ‘AD’ 32K
SINCLAIR ZX81 IK
SINCLAIR SPECTRUM 16K
SINCLAIR SPECTRUM 48K
ORIC-1 48K
SINCLAIR ZX PRINTER
SINCLAIR ZX81 RAM PACK
SEIKOSHA GP-250X PRINTER
SEIKOSHA GP-100A PRINTER
SANYO SCM12H GREEN MONITOR
SANYO SCM12N GREEN MONITOR
BMC BM12E GREEN MONITOR
JUKI 6100 DAISYWHEEL PRINTER
£268.00
£298.00
£39.00
£99.00
£129.00
£139.00
£39.00
£28.50
£260.00
£215.00
£ 100.00
£85.00
£ 100.00
£458.00
CARRIAGE: 1 item £4.00, 2 items £3.50 each. 3 items £3.00 each, 4 or more FREE
ANSWER:-
WHY NOT COME IN AND SEE US
AT OUR NEW SHOP
44 NEW BRIGGATE, LEEDS 1
NEXT TO THE GRAND THEATRE
miCRDCELL CDmPUTER SVSTEmS
ELIMINATE
FAULTY
CASSETTES
DataClone is the first com¬
pany in the UK established
specifically for the duplication of
data cassettes.
PCN Charts
You’ve followed the micro charts — now here’s the games top 30 compiled
from both independent and multiple sources across the nation. They reflect
what’s happening in high streets in the two weeks up to July 21 and. like the
micro charts, do not take account of mail order sales. We’li be keeping them
up to date, showing new positions every two weeks, so watch for the changing
status of your favourite games.
The micro charts this week show the number of machines sold in the
All other duplicating houses
are audio oriented — only Data¬
Clone has a duplicating system
designed from scratch purely to
handle computer information.
Creatly improved reliability
in data transfer rates from 300 to
beyond 2400 baud — previously
unattainable.
Top Thirty
r «4h
'ZPGtfi
fev/
All formats catered for Quan¬
tities from 200 to infinity.
Contact us now for brochure.
DataClone — the. first
specialist service for computer
cassettes.
DATACLONE HAS
EXPANDED, PRODUCING
AN EVEN EASTER
TURNAROUND. NOTE
NEW ADDRESS.
DATACLONE
UNm
ROSL1N SQUARE
ROSLIN ROAD
ACTI ON, LONDON W3
TEL: 01-993 2134
TELEX: 21879
\
i i'A L
/
}
w
>«i
unarunner
^ --
J
GAME TITLE
PUBLISHER
MACHINE
PRICE
▲
1
(2)
Jet-Pac
Ultimate
Spectrum
£5.50
▲
2
(8)
Penetrator
Melbourne
Spectrum
£6.95
▲
3
<6>
Gridrunner
Llamasoft
Vic 20
£8.50
V
4
(3)
Trader
Quicksilva
Spectrum
£9.95
▲
5
(7)
Transylvanian
Tower
Shepherd
Spectrum
£6.50
A
6
(ID
Ah Diddums
Imagine
Spectrum
£5.50
▼
7
(4)
The King
Microdeal
Dragon 32
£8.00
▼
8
(5)
Arcadia
Imagine
Spectrum
£5.50
A
9
(13)
Killer Gorilla
Micropower
BBC
£7.99
A
10
(—)
SS Enterprise
Silversoft
Spectrum
£6.00
▼
11
(1)
The Hobbit
Melbourne
Spectrum
£14.95
A
12
(14)
Might Simulation Psion
Spectrum
£5.95
A
13
(20)
Zaxxon
Datasoft
Atari
£29.90
A
14
(18)
Black Hole
Quest
Spectrum
£6.00
A
15
(21)
1 imegate
Quicksilva
Spectrum
£6.95
►
16
(16)
Moon Raider
Micropower
BBC
£7.99
A
17
(—)
Matrix
Llamasoft
CBM64
£8.50
▼
18
(15)
Miner 2049er
BigFive
Atari
£29.95
A
19
(—)
Planetoid
Acornsoft
BBC
£9.95
A
20
(24)
Everest
Shepherd
Spectrum
£6.50
A
21
(28)
Psst
Ultimate
Spectrum
£5.50
A
22
(30)
Knot in 3D
New Generation
Spectrum
£5.50
A
23
(26)
3D Combat Zone
Artie
Spectrum
£4.95
A
24
(25)
Xenon 1
UK
Oric
£5.50
▼
25
(10)
Frenzy
Quicksilva
Spectrum
£4.95
▼
26
(12)
Krazy Kong
Interceptor
Vic 20
£6.00
▼
27
(9)
Horace Goes
Skiing
Psion
Spectrum
£5.95
▼
28
(17)
Panic
BugBvte
Vic 20
£7.00
A
29
(—)
Preppie
Atari
Atari
£21.00
A
30
(—)
Pakacuda
Rabbit
CBM64
£5.99
PCN JULY 28-AUGUST J. ISW
PCN Charts
two-week period ending one week before publication date, so they tell the
story in the high street between June 7 and July 21.
Neither mail order nor deposit-only orders are included and the prices
quoted are for the no-frills models and include VAT. Information for the
top-selling micros is culled from retailers and dealers throughout the country
and, like the games, will be updated every alternate week. W atch the arrows
to see how they’re doing.
PCN Charts are compiled by MRIB (Computers), London, (01) 408 0250.
HARDWARE
Top Twenty up to £1,000
1
(3)
BBC B
£399
(AC)
2
(1)
Spectrum
£99
(SI)
3
(4)
Vic 20
£150
(CO)
4
(2)
Dragon 32
£175
(DR)
5
(5)
Atari 800
£300
(AT)
6
(9)
Commodore 64
£229
(CO)
7
(6)
ZX81
£40
(SI)
8
(7)
Oriel
£99
(OR)
9
(8)
Atari 400
£150
(AT)
10
(10)
Tl 99/4 A
£150
(Tl)
11
(12)
Newbrain A
£228
(GR)
12
(ID
Colour Genie
£168
(LO>
13
(13)
Lynx 48
£225
(CA)
14
(17)
Epson HX20
£472
(EP)
15
(18)
Tandy Colour
£240
(TA)
16
(19)
Sharp PC1500
£169
(SH)
17
(15)
Apple lie
£969
(AP)
18
(—)
Jupiter Ace
£90
(JU)
19
(14)
Sharp MZ80A
£549
(SH)
20
(—)
Acorn Atom
£174
(AC)
Top Ten over £1,000
►
I
(1)
Sirius 1
£2,754
(ACT)
►
2
(2)
IBM PC
£2,392
(IBM)
▲
3
(10)
Commodore 8096
£1,374
(CO)
▲
4
(5)
DEC Rainbow
£2.714
(DEC)
▲
5
(6)
Osborne 1
£1,581
(OS)
A
6
(7)
HP86A
£1,541
(HP)
▼
7
(4)
Apple 111
£2,780
(AP)
▼
8
(3)
Olivetti M20
£2,754
(OL)
▼
9
(8)
Epson QXIO
£1,700
(EP)
A
10
(—)
Sanyo MBC 2000
£2,242
(SA)
AC — Acorn Computers ACT — ACT Apple Computers AP — Apple AT — Atari
International. CA — Camputers CGI Computer Games Ltd CO —Commodore DEC —
Digital 00 —Dragon Data IP—Epson 00 -Grundy Business HP — Hewlett-Packard ■
— IBM K — Icarus Computers. Ml — Jupiter Cantab 10 — Lowe Electronics U — Lucas
Logic. 01 — Olivetti. 00 — One. 00 — Osborne Computers Corporation. SA — Sanyo SM —
Sharp SI — Sinclair 00 — Sord TA — Tandy T1 — Texas Instruments.
Find out why on:
01-674 4572
QUEST
Stt
FOR ANY
SPECTRUM
Price ^
£5 -50 SIMPLY THE BEST
If you're looking for the successor to
"Arcadia", look no further than
BLACK HOLE [P.C.W.)
The explosion effects are some
of the best we have seen (Sine User)
The Black Hole is a techntcoloured
confection of special effects very
demanding, magnificent graphics |Soft|
THE BLACK HOLE and VIOLENT UNIVERSE ar«
available from QUEST MICROSOfTWARE, 119 THE
PROMENADE CHELTENHAM. QLOS at CS SO each
=h HI
B3661 I Vr^Z!
Mr. Chip
SOFTWARK
LLAMASOFT!!
awesome games software
& VIC 20
(rx'-fj CBM 64
:%*/ ATARI
SPECTRUM
HOW m BOOTS. LASKBYSt
MANY RETAILERS OR FROM
49 MT PLEASANT, TADLEY. HANTS
TEL. 07356 *478
PCN JULY 28-AUGUST 3,19R3
irrwA\i.wm
Don’t carry a LOAD on your shoulders, unburden yourself on PCN's letters page.
Share your thoughts in' the
UK's liveliest micro weekly
letters columns. Funny, feisty
or fanciful, your letter could
win yo u £10 if it’s of star status.
WRfTITO: Random Access.
Persona / Computer News,
VNU. Evelyn House. 62
Oxford Street. London W1A
2HG.
Justice for
rough trade
As an owner of a Spectrum and
a trading standards officer. I
was very interested in Ralph
Bancroft's article on insurance
cover for micros (PCN, issue
19). One thing he fails to cover
is the legal aspect, ie the Sale of
Goods Act.
PCN £10 Star Letter
If the goods are of faulty
manufacture and the fault was
not readily discernible on
purchase, or the buyer did not
have an opportunity to examine
the goods, or the goods are not
fit for the purpose intended,
then the purchaser is entitled to
some redress, ie replacement, a
repair or a refund (possibly
minus something for use) and
this right is against the retailer
as well as the manufacturer,
despite anythi ng to the contrary
in the guarantee.
Indeed, if the guarantee says
anything to the contrary the
seller and/or the manufacturer
may be committing a criminal
offence as per the Consumer
Transactions (Restriction on
Statements) Order.
In other words, if your micro
fails and you can show it is due
to faulty manufacture rather
than abnormal use or abuse,
then it is up to the retailer to do
something about it.
/ D Moseley
London E6.
A sprite
old mess
Top marks for bad operating
manuals must surely be given to
Commodore.
Starting from scratch with a
ZX81, it is unbelievably simple
to learn how to write simple
programs and to develop with a
mixture of understanding and
worked examples. The oper¬
ator manual for the ZX81 is
outstandingly good.
Wanting a larger capability I
bought the Commodore 64,
expecting it to be relatively easy
to expand what I had already
learned. The operating manual
for the 64 is a disgrace. and for
anything other than the sim¬
plest programs I still have to use
the Sinclair.
For example, in a multiple
choice menu the Sinclair sequ¬
ence is easy:
100 input x
IIOGOSUB 1000 x
This sequence does not work
on the Commodore but what is
worse is that there is no clue in
the manual, how a choice of
GOTO or GOSUB addresses
can be handled.
Similarly, in the section on
Sprite graphics, the crucial
instruction “POKE 2042.13" is
explained by the following
paragraph: ‘This instructs the
computer to get the data for
Sprite 2 from the 13th area of
memory. You know from mak¬
ing your Sprite that it takes up
63 sections of memory. You
may not have realised it. but
those numbers you put across
the top of your grid equal what
is known as 3 bytes of the
computer. In other words each
collection of the following num¬
bers. 128, 64. 32. 16. 8, 4, 2, 1
equals 1 byte of computer
memory. Therefore with the 21
rows of your grid times the 3
bytes of each row, each Sprite
takes up 63 bytes of memory.’
So. until I find a manual (or
an expert) to explain the ‘13'
there is no way I can use two
different sprites.
It would also be interesting to
know how to use the four
‘special function* keys, but for
all the reference to them in the
manual, they might as well not
be there at all.
My other grumble is Commo¬
dore's policy decision to make
all models incompatible.
A friend has a Vic 20 but
there is no way his software will
run on my 64. Software — or
even data disks—from a 64 will
not download into a Pet. and
even software and data for the
second generation Feti (the
8032 type) cannot be used on
the third generation Pets (the
700 series) so that any company
wanting to increase on existing
computerisation cannot intro-
Perhaps the ultimate
absurdity is that software made
to run on the 8032 will not use
the extra memory of the 8096
even when it needs it and the
their improverished program¬
mers (the hard-luck letter ex¬
memory is available, without a plaining why the n% royalties
rewrite. have suddenly dropped to £x).
After the simplicity of Sir Michael Robinson
Clive’s machines and the good Bramhall, Cheshire
operating manuals, the CBM
manuals and incompatibilities ““ —— ““'““
are disastrous.
The sooner Sir Clive moves
into the bigger arena and res¬
cues us from this kind of
shambles, the better I will be
pleased.
Peter J Chadwick
Cobden Chadwick Ltd, En¬
gineers, Oldham.
PS. Perhaps the ultimate'absur¬
dity: the best guide I have yet
found to the Commodore 64 is
the one written by SINC¬
LAIR!!
Newbrain — food
for thought
I felt it was time to write; being a
Newbrain owner I have sear¬
ched for programs everywhere!
Everybody, especially some the delay of your
Just what
drives Clive?
I read with great interest your
artist's impression of the Mic¬
rodrive — I had no idea my
Spect rum was goi ng to be sitting
on a lump of cheese like that!
On the other hand. I've heard
so many views of what this long
awaited kit is going to look like
that I've quite stopped believ¬
ing them.
I can imagine old Sir Clive
trundling into the activity cen¬
tre (is there one?) of Sinclair
Research Inc in his electric
three-wheeled car.
In the comer of the room a
small machine is turning out
thousands of letters:
Dear ... We apologise for
' etc. The
Dragon owners, take the mick- rest of the design team
ey for the lack of software, grouped around a two-inch
Well, now is the time to strike television pausing only to calcu-
back. late a new, later, production
Not only are there all the deadline for the microdrive:
business programs and mail LET NEW DEAD-LINE =
listing etc. but I have bought OLD DEADLINE + INT
three adventures — Life (RND*4 MONTHS)+ 1
Search. The Swamp and ‘OK chappies.' he calls.
Leopard Lord — and even as I You'd better start thinking
write more are being churned about this Microdrive thing. I
out. see that Personal Computer
I am in the closing stages of News has got a rather good idea
writing one of my own which for the main format.'
has taken months to write and Maybe, by the time you
put together. receive this, the Microdrive will
Nor are there only adven- be around — I doubt it some-
tures but also all the action how. If it is. I will probably have
games you could wish for. bought one, whatever the price.
So, it’s nuts to all the anti and since I am ‘fortunate’ (is
Newbrain owners.
Dave Holmes,
Aylesbury, Bucks.
Price cut
consequences
There has been much specula¬
tion lately in many computer
magazines about software
prices. One view is that soft¬
ware producers could reduce
their prices by reducing their
profits.
It should, however, be ob- Arise. Sir Clive, this is an
vious that the producers (nam- ungloved challenge! But with
ing no names) are rather fond of today's planned launch, the
duce the newer computer, or their profits and would prob- Microdrive saga seems to be
ably take the reductions out on over, at least for some — Ed.
that the right word?) enough to
be on the list of first 1 .OOOorders
for the Spectrum I might not
have to wait more than the
stated 28 days for it.
All the same, it has been
many moons since the drive,
revolutionary as it may be. was
announced and I think that
something should be done ab¬
out the claims that certain
companies make in this field.
James Reid
Maidenhead, Berks
accepts incompatible records.
PCN JULY 28-AUGUST 3.1983
zmmssm
A word
for minnow
I would like to let Spectra
(Gameplay, issue 16 on Com¬
puter Scrabble for Spectrum)
know that ‘minnow’ across the
top will score 33. From his score
he looks like he needs a bit of
help. He probably managed to
find a better word himself, but a
little help from the ride* never
goes amiss.
Finding a better word is
almost as satisfying as thrashing
the Mico-Gen chess program at
level 0 — my reasoning being
that I never think more than one
move ahead at chess, so why
should a computer?
Anyway, I’m going back to
designing my noughts and cros¬
ses program — unique in the
field of computer games,
because the program is de¬
signed so the computer loses.
This program will be available
tor Ike 4SK Spectrum (a I6K
version may be available later if
the program can be satisfactori¬
ly trimmed) at £14.
An intensive media advertis¬
ing campaign will get underway
several months before it's laun¬
ched ‘only next year’.
Simon Bass
Wigan, Lancashire
Any advances on minnow? —
Ed.
Lease line
of resistance?
Having examined for some
little time the feasibility of a
novel computer application, I
was naturally interested in John
King's comments on leasing
(PCN . issues 17 and 18).
My experience is that while
numbers of suppliers advertise
the availability of credit facili¬
ties. HP or leasing, few are
prepared to elaborate—at least
to me! Some responses are
distinctly frivolous, 1 hope.
One company, for instance,
offered the Sirius 1 for £230 a
month (VAT included). I took
this to mean that if I really
intended to take their advert
literally then I should be made
to pay for my temerity.
£13 a week, a rate widely
advertised for another micro,
turned out to be applicable to a
seven-year (yes, seven-year)
lease. I suppose that it is at least
interesting to speculate as to
how the present day micro will
appear to the user in 1990!
Can it be that suppliers are
really not at all interested in
anything very far removed from
cash on the barrel, despite the
financial advantages of leasing
etc to potential business cus¬
tomers?
Do they fear that leasing may
tie them to supporting systems
which five years hence may
seem as useful as ENIAC
appears today? In fact, is the
response I have (not) been
getting no more than the result
of the old dilemma?
Rapid development=rapid
obsolescence? If so. can one
expect a bank or other financial
institution to take a different
view?
It did occur to me that I was
perhaps being altogether too
paranoid and that the poor
response was due to some other
cause — illegibility perhaps
Confusion as to my precise
requirements can be dis¬
counted as detailed specifica¬
tions were given.
Perhaps, after all, my hand¬
written letters are the cause.
Computer companies have a
marked propensity for distri¬
buting glossy handouts (rich in
pictures, short on information)
at the slightest provocation. If
inquiries were received in the
same form perhaps more atten¬
tion would be given to them.
Clearly, little business can be
expected from one who writes
in ballpoint. To be set against
this is the fact that I have
encountered no such difficul¬
ties when inviting tenders for
the supply of a system.
Could this be a modem
Riddle of the Sphinx ? Will
some enterprising sprog see the
potential for a new arcade game
‘Find a Leasing Company’?
John Hewitt
Selby, N Yorks
Mail-order
malingerers
Why. I ask myself, do certain
British micro manufacturers
insist on a total lack of effort to
produce friendly customer rela¬
tions. continually feeding us
half truths and outright lies. It’ll
be available soon, it does not
have as many features as we first
expected, but for an extra few
pounds, etc. etc.
I sent off for a package and a
few days later I received an
apologetic letter from the com¬
pany saying the cassette was in
stock, but the accompanying
book was not yet released.
I must say that this came as a
surprise, because the entire
package has been advertised a
number of times over the past
months, and I was under the
impression that that to adver¬
tise unavailable goods con¬
travened some consumer pro¬
tection act.
Thus another customer is
alienated through a company's
apparent inability to keep its
customers happy.
Should this letter come to the
attention of Acorn, please
note: not everyone with a BBC
micro only wants to shoot aliens
in various guises in various
ways, where are the language
ROMs, second processors etc
we were promised when we
spent our hard saved money on
your machine?
On a more happy note,
congratulations on a very well
presented, interesting maga¬
zine. My only complaint being
the very large percentage of
games reviews devoted to the
Spectrum, there being many
other machines deserving sup¬
port.
Stuart Plaister
Newport, Gwent
We do try to keep a fair mix of
machines in Gameplay,
although sometimes there seems
to be a bumper crop of new
Spectrum programs. But I take
your point — Ed.
The Juki’s just
a gem
Your review of the Juki 6100
daisywheel printer (June 30-
July 6 issue) was very interest¬
ing. I have used a Juki exten¬
sively over the past month, and
am very impressed — so much
so that Hilderbay is supplying
the Juki. As always happens
with something new, we made a
few mistakes at first (largely
due to the rather incompre¬
hensible manual). The paper
loads automatically to the fifth
line with the cover on without
trouble on our machine and
others we have seen. We had no
difficulty changing daisy-
wheels: if simply dropped in.
the Juki engaged the slot cor¬
rectly nine times out of ten (if it
fails, try again).
Two problems can arise in
interfacing the Juki to a compu¬
ter. If an 'intelligent' parallel
interface is used it will do things
to the con trol codes such as send
a linefeed after every carriage
return, etc. This is fine for the
typical dot matrix printer, but
disastrous for a daisywheel used
with word processing software.
In the mode used for word
processing, carriage returns are
used after every word (the
printer carriage responds by
moving very slightly). If lots of
linefeeds are added, you get
several blank lines between
words! We initially used an
Apple II with Format-80 (a
British word processor which
does very fancy proportional
spacing) and an Epson parallel
printer interface card. After
phoning the authors of Format-
80 we realised what was hap¬
pening, and wrote a (9-byte!)
routine which bypasses all the
interface card's cleverness: the
results were perfect.
The other interfacing prob¬
lem may be less usual. We were
using a standard interface
which we had used before: the
Juki failed to respond (this
happened when we were ex¬
hibiting the system at a show, of
course). We thought that we
must have damaged the printer
in transit. Back in the office, it
worked again with another
identical interface. We finally
discovered that changing a par¬
ticular chip in the interface to
another of the same type but
different make made all the
difference! (Both chips were of
reputable make, and worked
with all other printers).
Mike Salem
Hilderbay Ltd
on Microsoft
I fear I must disagree with the
letter written by J Skidmore
(PCN issue 17) condemning the
Microsoft Basic line editor.
The commands are easy to
learn, and are represented by
single letters (eg D to delete).
The provision of search and
kill facilities is also very wel¬
come. Speaking for the two
micros which I use (a TRS 80
and an ACT Sirius 1). the
so-called useless ‘x’ command,
which Mr Skidmore states acts
just like pressing Return, in fact
serves to extend the current
edited line — a useful function
indeed!
Surely the ‘x’ must be a typo,
since the ‘useless’ function de¬
scribed actually refers to the ‘E’
command, which terminates
the editing session.
The worst editor that I have
had the misfortune to confront
is the screen editor employed by
the Apple II. where simple text
insertion into a program line
requires jumping in and out of
the edit mode and the use of
various Escape sequences for
cursor movement — somewhat
confusing! No doubt the provi¬
sion of cursor control keys (as
found on other micros) would
help alleviate some of the
problems.
Alistair Moffatt
Coulport, Cove.
PCN JULY 2&-AUGUST 3,1983
■ lifllliik’HIHt !
\ Lost in a maze of bits and bytes, trapped in a forest of errors, or bugged by Basic?
_ Whatever your problem, access our HELP function . . . better known as Max Phillips.
Writ* to: Max Phillips, Routine
Inquiries, Personal Computer
News, VNU, Evelyn House;
62 Oxford Street, London
W1A2HG.
Pop art on
the One
I’m glad your magazine is
distributed in the Nether¬
lands. As an Oric owner, I enjo\
the programs and tips. Could
you explain the function of the
POP and PULL statements?
The manual doesn’t help and
experimenting hasn't given me
HJ Ten Brinke,
Groningen, The Netherlands
A POP and PULL do complex
Hilittle jobs. Fortunately, it’s
unlikely you’ll ever actually
need them . . . most Basics
don’t have equivalents. Look¬
ing at POP first, its job is to
remove the top return address
of the GOSUB-RETURN
stack.
When you call a subroutine
with GOSUB. the Oric remem¬
bers where you called it from.
Then, when you execute a
RETURN, the Oric leaps back
to the statement just after the
GOSUB. The place where the
Oric remembers this ‘return
address' is called the GOSUB-
RETURN stack. It’s called a
stack because it is a pile of
numbers. After one GOSUB, it
looks like this:
RETURN adl
If that subroutine GOSUBs
to another subroutine, you get:
RETURN ad2
RETURN adl
And so on. When a sub¬
routine ends at a RETURN
statement, the Oric takes the
top return address and carries
on with the program at that
point. So normally you can
GOSUB-RETURN until your
heart’s content. Provided you
stick to the GOSUB-RETURN
pair, the Oric handles it all
automatically for you.
But there are times when you
want to get out of a subroutine
without going back to where
you came from. POP lets you do
this. It just forgets about the top
address on the stack.
To see it working try this
program:
10 PRINT “MAIN 1”
20 GOSUB 100
30 PRINT “MAIN 2”
40 END
100 PRINT “SUB 1 PARTI”
110 GOSUB 200
120 PRINT “SUB 2 PART 2"
130 RETURN
200 PRINT “SUB 2’’
220 RETURN
Run the program and make
sure you follow what it’s doing.
Now add line 210 POP. When
you RUN the program, the
POP in subroutine 2 will ‘pop’
the return address set up by line
110 GOSUB 200. Leaving just
the return address of LINE 30
on the stack. So the RETURN
on 220 goes straight back to the
main program without going
near SUB 1.
What use is this? You’ll find
people who’ve worked with
assembly language use it more
often than those who don’t. It’s
main use is getting out of nested
subroutines when an ‘error’
occurs.
Perhaps you have an option
where pressing Escape always
takes you back to a main menu.
Rather than setting a flag,
RETURNing and testing for
the flag, you could just POP the
subroutine and GOTO the
menu. Obviously, you have to
be very careful about where
POPs get you . . . once you’re
several subroutine levels deep,
POPs make debugging very
hard.
PULL works in much the
same way for REPEAT-UN-
TIL loops. Its effects are much
less tangible because you can
often be leaping out of un¬
finished REPEAT loops with
no apparent ill-effects. Still, if
you insist on leaping out of such
things, you might as well do it in
style and PULL the REPEAT
address before you go.
A ROM do
on the Vic
/V own a Vic 20 and use the
following program to print
out a list of Bask- commands and
error messages from the Vic’s
10 FOR A = 49913 TO 49959
20 PRINT CHR$<PEEK<A»;
30 NEXT A
40 FOR A = 50039 TO 50055
50 PRINT CHRKPF.F.Kf A));
60 NEXT A
I was wondering if. by chang¬
ing the values in these locations,
new Bask words and different
error messages could be pro¬
duced. If you can't do it thb
way, how can you do it?
Neil Merer,
St Helens, Merseyside
l \ Ye s . . . that would work.
•'The problem is that chang¬
ing those memory locations
isn’t easy. They, like the rest of
Basic, are in ROM. You can’t
just POKE it. Short of blowing
new ROMs for the Vic, what
can you do?
You can get at Vic Basic and
add in new commands and
doubtless create your own error
messages. It’s possible on all
versions of this Basic and you
will have seen toolkits that do it.
However, I can’t see the novel¬
ty of your own messages being
worth the trouble.
Don't give in
to Brainfade
Al cut my home computing
teeth on a Video Genie. I-ast
year, attracted by hi-res
graphics and on-screen editing,
I upgraded to a Newbrain A.
Now I find myself in an unsup¬
ported wilderness as far as
software and magazines are
concerned.
I can ill afford the cost but I
feel I must change again. My
choke is the BBC mkro. Is it
possible and practical to restrict
my purchase to a BBC Model A
while using the additional mem¬
ory and the advantages of the
Z80A as a second processor?
G K Allisstone,
HemeI Hempstead, Herts
A lt doesn't sound a good idea.
Acorn and Torch have had
enough problems getting the
Tube to work. Attempts to
connect a Newbrain unaided
(even with its technical manu¬
als) won’t be fun. Probably the
best you could do would be to
get the RS423 interface fitted to
the BBC and connect it to the
Newbrain comms port. Good
fun and useful for certain ap¬
plications but not exactly main¬
stream home computing.
Your choice is really to go for
a BBC Model B (you could sell
the Newbrain) or stick where
you are. BBC Model As were
never a good idea . . . Acorn
has now lost interest in them.
You’ll find it very frustrating to
discover everything you fancy
only runs on the Model B.
Alternatively, give your
Newbrain a chance. Software,
program listings and articles are
beginning to appear. Even
Grundy has produced some of
the add-ons it has been advertis¬
ing for longer than is decent.
And do join a Newbrain user
group. The Newbrain is a nicely
put together system. But it
needs to come in out of the
wilderness if it and its users
don’t want to be left out of
things.
Spectrum's in with
the BIN crowd
don’t seem to be Able to find
w^the user-defined graphics <
my Spectrum. If I am typing in a
listing and it requires ‘graphk
A’ or ‘graphic F\ all I get is a
letter *A’ or ‘F* and not some
amazing alkn.
The Spectrum manual is very
vague and after numerous
attempts at button pushing,
still find myself out of luck.
G Winstanley,
Sale, Cheshire
A You could spend a lot of
time looking for the user
defined graphics ... a shame
since you've already found
them. The thing about user-
defined graphics is that you (the
user) have to define them. That
is set their shape to amazing
aliens or whatever. Until then,
they are set to default
shapes ... the letters A to U.
So there are two things that
might happen in a listing for you
to type in. The listing may have
the user defined graphics separ¬
ately with a little program to
load them. If so, follow the
instructions for entering/saving
them first before entering and
saving the main listing. In this
case, you should see the charac¬
ters when you actually enter
graphic ‘A’ or whatever.
The other more common way
is for the program to define the
characters when it is run. Lots
of BIN and POKE USR state¬
ments are a dead giveaway for
this method. In this case, enter
the program exactly as it is. The
first time it is run. it will set the
shape of the user defined char¬
acters for the rest of that
session. After running the prog¬
ram, try listing it. You should
see the ‘graphic’ letters changed
into the relevant shapes.
To learn more of this magic,
try the manual from the bottom
of page 92 onwards. Once you
try these things for yourself,
they become a lot less vague.
The Vic's
roaming RAM
:ould you explain how the
/VTould yo
standard
RAM on a Vic 20
PCN JULY 28-AUGUST 3.1983
varies from 3.5K to 5K. It is
quoted as 5K in Databasics but
the machine I have seems onlv to
have 3.5K.
Jonathan Phelan,
Jedburgh, Northumbria
II The Vic really has 5K RAM.
MThe figure of 3.5K is how
much RAM is available to you
when you switch on. Some of
the precious 5K goes on mem¬
ory for the screen display,
memory for the tape buffer and
other odds and sods including
the space needed for Basic to
think.
So it depends on whether you
quote ‘total RAM' or "RAM
free to Basic’ which figure you
use. It is possible, with a bit of
work, to reclaim some of the
1.5K back from the system.
Locations 828 to 1023 are just
used as a cassette buffer and
could be POKEd as a data store
for example.
rounded before being placed in
a string. Replace line 50 with IF
STRS a + b = STRS t THEN
PRINT “ERROR ”:STOP.
If you still have problems,
avoid decimal fractions. Do
your calculations in pennies.
All the best people do. The
most desperate technique in
Basic is to avoid floating point
altogether. Keep your numbers
as digits in strings and write
routines to add. multiply strings
and so on. It may be slow. But
the answers are right!
A decimal
pointless exercise
Q l’m writing a simple prog¬
ram to totalise invoices for
my grocery business. But it
seems that my Spectrum doesn’t
like decimal points. Here’s an
example:
10 LETa = 34.93
20 LET b = 5.24
30 LET! = 40.17
40 PRINT a + b
50 IF a + hot THEN PRINT
“ERROR”: STOP
60 PRINT “OK"
The result is “ERROR”.
Why? How can I avoid this?
Paul Calleja-Gera,
Cheltenham, Glos
A More floating point fun.
Computers can’t hold all
decimal fractions accurate¬
ly .. . bits are frequently lost
and rounded. What actually
happens and how bad the errors
are depends on who wrote the
maths routines in the Basic. In
your example above, the Spec¬
trum doesn't do too well.
All that is happening is that
the result of the addition and
the value used for variable t are
different. They may look the
same because the Spectrum will
round both values before print-
ingthem. But somewhere along
the line, there are bits that are
different.
In accounting programs, you
should ensure that arithmetic is
as accurate as possible. In your
example, the simplest dodge
would be just to convert the
numbers into strings before
comparing. They will both be
Dangerous structure
noticed
^1 have been bombarded with
^£he virtues of structured
languages. All I want to know is
what is a structured language
and w hat are all these bad habits
that Basic teaches me?
I’ve used lots of Basics includ¬
ing Sinclair Basic on the Spec¬
trum and BBC Basic. I’ve been
told that BBC Basic is a fairly
structured language but. if this
is so, I am sticking to Sinclair
Basic. I can write anything I can
write in BBC Basic in Sinclair
Basic and I get really annoyed
that I can’t jump out of
loops or arrays without losing
the data.
Brian Williams,
Clwyd, North Wales
A A so-called structured lan¬
guage is one that helps you
(even encourages you) to write
in a structured fashion. This
involves programs divided up
into sensible debuggablc mod¬
ules written in a neat, organised
manner. There are all sorts of
fiddly details such as using a set
number of recognisable
forms . . . REPEAT ... UN¬
TIL. WHILE . . . WEND etc.
But if you try reading about it,
you’ll discover that it's basically
commonsensc programming.
BBC Basic is ‘fairly struc¬
tured’ because it has words that
make life easier. Things like
multi-line functions, defined
procedures help to produce
manageable code. On to the
famous bad habits. These sins
involve chaotic programming
. . .such as leaping in and out of
loops.
No-one would stop you writ¬
ing programs this way. After
all, the most important part of
programming style is delivering
a working program at the end of
the day. But if you do let the
GOTOs get out of hand, you'll
end up working harder trying to
debug the thing.
The Choice is Yours!
But do you really know which printer le best for your
application?
As with the Computer market it’s a difficult Job these
days knowing which printer Is most suitable for your
particular needs. Whichever manufacturer you turn to
they tell you thelr's is ideal for the Job.
Well, we at Hllderbay have been In computing for over
20 years 20 years in which time we've gained an
awful lot of experience. Experience we are happy to
share with you - we are willing to evaluate your
circumstances and advise on the best printer for the
Job at keen prices. We will make sure the printer you
buy will be the best for your needs. So at the end of the
day you won't be wasting money on facilities you
won't use. nor will you have a printer which, though
cheap, won't do what you need it to.
We also have a range of software for the Apple -
l.e. Payroll *60. Bookkeeper *49. SSP *70 etc + VAT
Another First from Hllderbay...
Word Proce—or Syitsms for n Spectrum
At last - sensible, functional systems that give your
Spectrum a word processor facility.
System 1 A package that utilizes the Spectrum and an
Olivetti daisywheel typewriter to give you a stand
alone word processor. The typewriter doubles as
printer and keyboard but can be used as a typewriter
while still connected to the Spectrum expected
availability Mid-July.
System 8 A package that can be ‘tailor made' to suit
your needs, comprises a parallel interface, customised
Tasword Two software and printer (from our wide
range). This system can be supplied for any computer
however, we do recommend a typewriter style
keyboard for fast professional use with Spectrum.
Spectrum Software: Payroll, Stock Control. SSP etc.
Price on application _
Ideal for our System 2 package - a fast daisywheel
printer that gives 20 CPS. 10,12.16 CPI and
proportional spacing! Including a 1 year guarantee for
only *399. VAT Of delivery extra.
For Spectrum - Centronics type parallel Interface
Including cable and connectors. Recognises LLIST and
LPRINT Does screen copy. Complete with driving
software Only *39.13 + VAT - please contact us about
availability. Simple word processor for Spectrum
free on request with printer or Interface orders!
PLEASE CONTACT US FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
Hilderbay
Professional Software
Hllderbay Ltd Dept PCN 4 8-10 Parkway
Regents Park London NW17AA
Telephone: 01-485 1059 Telex: 22870
PCN JULY 28-AUGUST 3.1983
MICROWAVES
Scaled a new PEEK in microcomputing? If printed your tip will earn you a fiver.
If you’ve got something to crow
about ... a bit of magic that'll
make the world a better place
for micro users, then send it to
PCS Microwaves—our regular
readers' hints and tips page.
We'll pay you £5 if we print it.
We’ll pay you even more if your
little gem gets our vote as
microwave of the month. Think
on ... and write to Micro-
waves. PCS , 62 Oxford Street.
London W IA 2H(>.
More control on the
BBC
BBC users with MOS 1.0 on¬
wards will know that the default
codes generated hy the function
keys can he used to enter
teletext colour changes in
MODE-: 7 For example REM
Shift-FI HELLO has the HEL¬
LO in red.
The Control-Function keys
can produce even more surpris¬
ing results Try PRINT CTRL-
FO. In MODE 7. this produces
the number 3584 ... the value
of PAGE. CTRL-Fl produces
TIME. CTRL-F2 is LOMEM
and CTRL-F3 is HIMEM.
CTRL-FO produces a value
of 144 or &90. On page 484 of
the user guide, it gives &90 as
being the token for PAGE. So
this method works by entering a
token directly from the
keyboard — strange but handy
to know.
G S Evans,
Farnhorough, Hants.
Oric addresses
DOKES and POKES
The following addresses may be
useful to Oric programmers.
62I(#26D) is the base address
of the text screen. This is
normally 48000 but DOKEing
it will stop the top lines from
scrolling. For example, to stop
the top seven lines from scroll¬
ing. DOKE with 48000+ 7*40
that is DOKE 621.48280.
Also useful in this context is
623 (#26F) which is the number
of text lines on the screen.
Normally 27. POKEing this
location will reduce the size of
the text screen. As an example,
to have a scrolling window from
lines 13 to 27 with lines 1 to 12
fixed on the screen. try program
C R Burnham,
Rose Hill, Oxford.
1G CLSs CLEAR 400.&H6FFF
20 FOR I=&H7000 TO &H7O0A! READ A*i P
OKE I, VAL ( "4tH‘‘+A*) : NEXT
30 DATA 4F,66,70,20,88,70,21,87,70,22
,39
40 INPUT "EN1ER TWO NUM6ERS “;A,6
30 POKE &H7020,At POKE *H7021,8
60 EXEC &H700O
70 D=PEEK(&H7022)
80 PRINT A!" EOR "tB : ’;i"
Dragon manual
modified
Many Dragon users believe that
USR1 toUSR9donot work and
resort to redefining USR0 for
several uses. These functions
do work but their syntax is
wrongly described in the manu¬
al. There should lie a 0 before
the USR number. Try this
program:
10 DEFEJSR1 =
&H8015:MOTORON
20 DEFUSR2 &H8018
MOTOROFF
30 A$=INKEY$: IF
AS-’**’THEN 30
40 IF AS=CHRS (13)
THEN
A=EJSR01(A):GOTO 30
50 A=USR02 (A):GOTO
30
The program simply turns
the cassette motor on if EN¬
TER is pressed and turns it off if
any other key is pressed.
S Ward
St Helens. Merseyside
Newbrain
screen dump
This short program dumps the
Newbrain’s screen to a printer,
assuming it’s on stream #8.
10 REM ** SCREEN DUMP
20 PUT 12
30 FOR 1= 1 TO 24
40 PUT 5: LINPUT#, AS
50 PRINT#8, AS : PUT0
60 NEXT I: END
This can be handy while
debugging your own programs
or it might make a useful
subroutine to actually use in
them.
Quintin Gardner,
Croydon, Surrey
10 CLSi FOR A-I TO 12« PRINT "LINE"A! NEXT
20 DUKE 621,48480! REM BASE ADDR ♦ 12 LINES
30 POKE 623,14! REM 14 LINES TO SCROLL
40 FOR A = 1 TO 100
SO PRINT “THIS LINE WILL SCROLL"
60 NEXT
70 DOLE 621,48000! REM RESET BASE ADDR
BO POKE 623,27 l REM RESET LINES/SCREEN
fragrantf: how to EOR two m
EOR—what a
scorcher...
The Dragon does not have a
bitwise Exclusive-OR feature.
The short Basic program above
(program 2) contains a machine
code routine to let you EOR
two numbers together.
A W Smart,
Newport-on-Tay, Fife.
Octagonal
Dragon
The dragon can handle octal
constants as wcl I as deci ma I a nd
hex. Just put &O in front of the
number.So PRINT &O number
will convert number from octal
to decimal. It's surprising the
things you can find in Tandy
Color Computer manuals.
M Frary.
Dereham, Sorfolk.
Spectrum’s Enter
INKEYed
INKEYs on the Spectrum
won't read the shift and enter
keys. If you need these, you can
use the IN function as follows:
IN(65278) equals 254 if Caps is
pressed. IN(32766) equals 253
if Symbol shift is pressed and
IN(49I50) equal to 254 indi¬
cates that Enter is pressed. You
can check for combinations of
these keys by using the AND
operator.
John Isaacs.
Bournemouth. Dorset.
New noise
on Oric
If you’re bored with the Oric's
predefined sounds and find
inventing your own a bit fiddly,
these calls may come in useful.
CALL#FB03 for a low click
CALL#FB12 for a steady
'white noise’. CALL#FB30
produces a buzzing sound and
CALL#FB40 gives a high
pitched sound. Finallv
CALL#FBCO produces va¬
rious sounds depending on
when it is called.
S Hummel,
Bexley, Kent
Ml tb« Dragon.
Capital idea
for Spectrum
Spectrum users who have tried
to alter the cursor type from
within a program may have
come across a problem. In
chapter 25 of the manual, a
system variable called MODE
is described as setting the cursor
type. Unfortunately. POKEing
this has no lasting effect.
Fortunately, you can achieve
the same effect bv POKEing
FLAGS2. So POKE 23658. 0
sets the cursor to L and POKE
23658.8 locks the cursor in C
mode.
David Jones,
Edmonton, London S9
New NEW
for Beeb Basic
PCS Microwaves in issue 18
featured K Wolstenhome’s
nethod for NEWing a running
BBC Basic program. Mr Wol-
stenhome presumably has a
Beeb with Basic I because the
new Basic II starts with:
8000 CMP&I
BEQ&8023
RTS
So the Beeb vanishing trick’
would probably be better if the
Accumulator was set to 1 before
the CALL. So to make a
program vanish after it has run.
use A% = 1:CALL &8<XX).
P K Hopkins,
Withington, Manchester
Newbrain cursor
elevated
One feature missing from the
Newbrain’s Editor is the ability
to send the cursor to the top of
the screen when a long page is
open. Home (PUT 12) is not
what is needed. The following
program may help:
1000 a = PEEK(92) +
PEEK(93)*256
1010 a = PEEK(a+9)-
PEEK(a+ 10)
1020 FORx =
lTOa:PUTll:NEXTx
Dave Gunthorpe.
Birmingham BI6
PC N JULY IK-AUGUST 3.1483
Out of this world OFFER..
WE BUY GAMES CONTACT US NOW
50 games for your micro
For a limited period we are offering 50 first
class arcade games for the following micros at
a special introductory price
• Spectrum 16/48K.£8.99
• Dragon 32.£8.99
• Oriel 48K.£8.99
• ZX811K.£4.99
• ZX8116K.£5.99
As a further offer to readers of this magazine
only we will give a FREE DATA CASSETTE
with every tape ordered
Other tapes are:
• Defender 48K Spectrum.£2.50
• Sam Slug 16K Spectrum.£3.00
• Ten Games 16/48K Spectrum...£3.00
All prices are what you pay, post is tree
Please send cheques/PO’s to:
A ANC0 SOFTWARE
25 C0RSEWALL STREET. COATBRIDGE ML51PX
Micro Consultants Lid
1 ra *i
CMngenieiotdetoctssing toeptucs presentment fmencmmotmngO _
msntgtment Seles tortcestmt Budget pttmnq llecttonc ms* end dels Oesescctss Smell
Business sccounont Protect menegemetv ItsOwrttndtrsmmo
INCREDIBLE OFFERS ON THE REVOLUTIONARY
APPLE MND APPLE ///SYSTEMS
APPLE lie STARTER SYSTEMS from only £1057
JUKI PRINTER.£399
MATRIX PRINTERS from as little as £289
* H: * OVERSEAS ORDERS A SPECIALITY * * *
Call (0942) - 892818 876141 for full details
APPLE II + 48K ONLY £499 + VAT while stocks last
All our products carry a 1 year warranty
•SPECTRUM •
ZXOi • DRAGON • ATARI
VK* Hi)-#’"*'
PCN JULY 28-AUGUST 3. 198’
A/eur/Stain ___ v
Buy from the NewBrain Specialists^
NewBrain Models A and AD
Expanded NewBrain systems r call for prices
All the leads, cables etc. J
Software Technical Manual £50
Printers Epson FX80, RX80, Shinwa CP80, Juki 6100 etc.
From £267 4- VAT.
Recorder Sanyo DR 101 Data Recorder £39 + £5.85 VAT.
NewBrain Software Selection
BRAINZAP ASSEMBLER (W) An interactive assembler/editor
opening up the world of Z80 machine language £9.95
MONITOR (W) The memory manager. Examine, alter, fill, move,
dump, save, load, run, print, convert, etc. £8.00
DISASSEMBLER (W) Unravel the secrets of the NewBrain's ROM £9.95
DATABASE (G) Includes sort and search on any field, and
many other useful features £19.95
CHESS (Gr) The one you've been waiting for! £14.95
LIFE SEARCH (W) (Adventure) Fills the NewBrain and can
take two lifetimes to solve! £9.95
BRAINTEXT (W) An easy-to-use and very practical W/P. £12.00
STAR TREK (W) Rid the Galaxy of the Klingon menace-
if you can! £9.00
BRAINWRITER (B) All the W/P features you've been waiting for! £34.50
EPROM VERSION £41.40
LOAN & MORTGAGE (W) Vital information for savers
and borrowers £9.95
9 HOLE GOLF (W) Random holes. Fairways and 3-D
putting. (Variable wind) £7.00
X BOMB BATTLE (B) Fast action game £9.00
Key to Software suppliers:
B = Brainwave, G = Gemini, Gr = Grundy, W = Watkiss Computers
Please write/phone for full lists of NewBrain hardware & software etc.
AUTHORS - DO YOU HAVE A PROGRAM WE MIGHT SELL?
MAIL ORDER - Free delivery for orders over £5.
To obtain your NewBrain etc., ring us on Stevenage (0438) 812439
(Access accepted) or send cheque/PO/Access number to:
ANGELA ENTERPRISES
4 Ninnings Lane, Rabley Heath,
Welwyn, Herts AL69TD
^_ Tel: Stevenage (0438) 812439
PCN JULY 28-AUGUST 3.1983
ATARI ACCESS
■■■■■
Having discovered the limits of the Atari Richard Hawes shows how add-ons can boost it.
Driving made easy
with the Atari
A disk drive is a useful add-on to any
computer. And on the Atari it gives
you access to more programs and
programming languages, as well as all the
usual advantages over cassette such as
speed and reliability.
To use a disk drive from Basic the
computer needs an extension to its own
operating system. This extension is called
the Disk Operating System < DOS). There
are a number of disk operating systems on
the market for the Atari, the most common
being Atari’s own DOS 2.
Atari's own 810 is also the most
commonly used disk drive. This drive is
single density and single sided, giving
approximately 90K of data storage per
SVain floppy disk. although disk drives with
larger storage arc available. Each drive
comes with a built in controller, and up to
four 810s can be attached to the Atari.
DOS 2 takes up roughly 8K of the Atari's
memory. For this reason, it is not practical
to use the disk drive on a 16K machine,
although it can be done. You normally
would require at least 32K of memory in
your 400 or 800 in order to use it.
Once DOS is in the Atari’s memory, you
have two main ways to control the drive.
The first is through the DOS commands
offered by the further extension to DOS
called the Disk Utilities Package (DUP).
Disk options available through the
XlOcom
Number
Operation
3
Open channel
S
Input
7
Get
9
Print
11
Put
12
Close
32
Rename file
33
Delete file
35
Lock file
36
Unlock file
37
Point
38
Note
254
Format disk
The second is through the commands
offered by Basic.
Basic programs held in memory can be
stored onto a disk using the SAVE
command. This stores your program on the
disk in a tokenised, memory saving format.
along with the variable name table. The
command requires you to specify cassette
or disk and a filename.
You also have the option to add an
extension to the filename. This is usually
used to describe the type of file saved
(Basic program or data file for example).
The command looks like this:
SAVE“Dn:filenamc.cxf
The device name for disk storage will be
'D* and a number from one to four
specifying on which disk drive the data will
be saved. If no number is specified then a
default of drive 1 will be assumed. The
filename can be up to eight characters long.
The first character must be a letter from
A-Z, but the rest of the name can consist of
any letter and any number. Punctuation is
not permitted and all letters must be in
uppercase.
The extension is optional and added by
separating it from the filename by a full
stop. It can be up to three characters long,
and can consist of any number or capital
letter.
Disk options available with the OPEN command
Number
Operation
4
Input only
6
Read directory only
8
Output only
12
Input and Output
The companion to this command is the
LOAD command. This is used in exactly
the same way as the SAVE command to
retrieve named files recorded on a disk,
and erases any program already in mem¬
ory. The Basic command RUN can be
extended to load and run automatically a
program saved onto disk, substituting
RUN for SAVE as in our previous
example.
In the same way the Basic commands
LIST and ENTE R can be extended to store
and retrieve files using the disk drive.
Using the LIST command however does
not tokenise the program as it saves it nor
does it save the variable name table. This
command can also be used to store specific
line number ranges to a disk.
The ENTER command does not erase
the program existing in memory and can
therefore be used to merge programs. If
you used a routine a lot in your programs it
could be listed to disk and entered into
memory each time you wished to add it to a
program.
All of the commands mentioned so far
require no additional setting up of the disk
drive before use. But some commands can
be used to access the disk drive more
directly. In order to use them a channel has
to be specially opened, with the OPEN
command in the format:
OPEN#n,op,0, “Dn:filename.ext”
The *n’ is the number of the channel
selected — DOS 2 allows eight channels to
be opened simultaneously. The ‘op’ is a
number specifying the type of access
required to the disk drive, and these are all
shown in figure 1. The next number that
22 ►
PCN JULY 2H-AUGUST 3. IW
At -£1795 it can
If you’ve been waiting for the right micro to This stylish British-built CP/M™ Micro is
come along at the right price, then the waiting is compact enough to be carried in its shoulder bag
over. Every Miracle comes with all the software for take-away computing. Yet it has a generous
needed to make it a ready-to-run versatile 10" screen and hill size keyboard, and is
business machine. Included are word- powerful enough to tackle your toughest
processing, financial spreadsheet, data business assignments with its twin 500K
management and telecommunications products, floppies and 128K of RAM (there’s plenty of
PLUS MicroModeller, the worlds leading room to grow, too).
modelling system. The \y,. ac | e ’ s advanced features make it faster
and friendlier than any of it’s rivals. Disk access
And that’s only the beginning of the Miracle. times are up to 500 times speedier, and the
only be a Miracle
Miracle is so easy to operate you'll be using it
productively an hour after you’ve first switched
on, even if you’ve never touched a computer
before.
If you’re in the market for a micro - desk-top or
portable - you should experience the Miracle
eturn the coupon and we’ll send you full
*ails and arrange for you to experience a
iracle for yourself at your nearest dealer.
Miracle Specifications
Microprocessors
- CPU Z80 A
- Speed 4MHz
- Z80A DMA (Direct Memory Addressing)
- Z80A SIO
-Z80A PIO
- Z80A CTC (Counter Timer Chip)
- 5 Expansion slots available
- SASI Industry standard Winchester hard disk interface
(optional extra)
Memory
- RAM 128K (Cache utilises 64K)
- EPROM 4K
- 60K TP A
- 192K RAM board (optional extra)
Storage
- 2 Intelligent VA' Floppy disk drives, 500 Kb
(unformatted), 400Kb (formatted) each, single side
quad density.
Ports
- Parallel: Centronics type
-Serial: TwoRS232C
RS422 (optional extra)
Screen
- 10' Green phosphor, 80 x 25 display. Brightness
control and inverse video
Keyboard
- Slimline and fully detachable
- 86 keys (107 legends) full QWERTY
- Separate numeric pad
- Separate (10) programmable keys
- Coiled lead for easy and neat storage
Dimensions
- Height 220mm (8.7*)
-Width 500mm (19.7*)
- Depth 395mm (15.6*)
- Custom designed plastic casing
Software
- CP/M operating system
- Operating Guide (user friendly pre processor)
- MicroCache (for vastly reduced disk access times)
- MemoPlan Word Processing
- FilePlan Data Management
- ProfitPlan “Calc” Spreadsheet
- MicroModeller Advanced Business Planner
- Transfer (micro to micro, micrcVmodem
commu nications)
- lankey keyboard typing instructor program
I want to meet a Miracle
Name...
Address.
Telephone
Position. .
Company.
-V Portico Technology
■ Ji \ " South Bank House, Black Prince Road, London S.E.l. Telephone: 01-735 8171.
19
should be specified is always a ‘O’ when
using disk drives.
There is also a CLOSE command to shut
off the file when it is finished with, as a file
that is left unclosed will become corrupted.
The Atari automatically CLOSEs all files
when the end of a program is reached.
The Basic command INPUT can be
extended to enter strings from the disk
within a specific file:
INPUT #n;var,var
The ‘n’ specifics from which open file to
INPUT the string. The first variable is
where the first amount of information is
read into and subsequent variables, (in¬
cluding string variables), can be added to
read in more than one bit of information at
a time. PRINT is used in the same way to
store information, variable by variable, to
disk, and NOTE and POINT are used to
step around the files randomly.
With NOTE, the first variable will
contain the current sector number (1 to
719) and the second variable will tell you
the byte mmbef (0 to 124) of the next byte
to be read or written by the computer.
POINT allows you to specify exactly where
the next rcad/write operation will occur.
PUT and GET give direct control to file
handling, and are very similar to INPUT
and PRINT They deal with reading/
writing only one byte at a time in the form
PUT #n.var.
We have already mentioned that there
arc a number 0 1 dbk control commands
available through the DUP. including
formatting disks, locking and unlocking
files. Most of these functions can be
implemented from Basic through the use
of the XIO command. The utility program
on the right includes some of these.
By using the XIO command in
the form XIO cmdno,#chno,0.0,
"Dn:filename.ext". you can perform a
number of operations. Those related to
disk access are shown in figure 2. The
‘cmdno’ determines the type of operation
and ‘#chno’ is the number of the channel
used.
Thto program uses high l«n*-numb*n. This to to
that oflet you have typtd it to. you cm LIST k to
tha dtofc and than appand R on to your own
program*.
Interface and boost use
To get the maximum use from an Atari disk
drive system, you really need the Atari 850
interface module as well. Although your
work area may seem to get cluttered with
power supplies and cords very quickly (the
Atari disk drive system with interface
module needs no less than three external
power supplies) its worth making the
room.
The interface module increases the
number of devices you can plug into the
peripheral I/O connections on the com¬
puter, by giving you two separate I/O
connections at the front (one for the line
going into the computer and one for the
line going out to the device), four serial
interface outputs and a parallel output. It
also has a second processor, gives you more
memory and the ports are programmable.
ATARI ACCESS
2 REM
4 REM
6 REM
20005
20010
20020
20030
20040
20050
20060
20070
20080
20090
20095
20100
20110
20150
20160
20170
20180
20200
20210
20220
20230
20240
20250
20260
20270
20280
20290
20300
20310
20320
20350
20360
20370
20380
20390
20400
20450
20460
20470
20480
20490
20500
20550
20560
20570
2O580
20590
20600
20650
20660
20670
••DISK UTILITIES SUBROUTINE **
•♦COPYRIGHT R.A.HAWES JUL83 **
** SILICA ATARI USER’S CLUB **
=*<12>.C<30. ,D. (.0, .C.--D, ", D.-
GRAPHICS Oi? i? :•? •• DISK UTILITIES"
7 » 7 "1> RENAME FILE"
7 *? ”2) DELETE FILE"
7 I? ”3) LOCK FILE"
7 l? “4) UNLOCK FILE"
? l? "5> FORMAT DISK"!? i?
?*TE? iTES 3 U”-'— ~~«-r -
TRAP 20650
ON NUM GOSUB 20150,20250,20350,20450,20550
C**"Di"t GOTO 20010
REM RENAME FILE
GRAPHICS Oi? i? "RENAME FILE"
* 7 "ENTER OLD FILE NAME "JtINPUT A*
"ENTER NEW FILE NAME "I:INPUT B*
C*<LEN<C*M-1)-A*
C*(LEN(C*)+1)»D*
C*(LEN(C*)-M)-B*
XIO 32,41,0,0,C*
RETURN
REM DELETE FILE
GRAPHICS Oi? i? "DELETE FILE"
to be “ leted «
? I? "HIT Y TO DELETE "JC*5" "|iINPUT B«
IF B*<>"Y" THEN RETURN
XIO 33,ttl,O,O,C*
RETURN
REM LOCK FILE
GRAPHICS Oi? i? "LOCK FILE"
7 I? "ENTER FILE TO BE LOCKED "IiINPUT A*
C*(LEN(C«) -M )=A»
XIO 35,#l,0,0,C*
RETURN
REM UNLOCK FILE
GRAPHICS 0«? i? "UNLOCK FILE"
? : 7 "ENTER FILE TO BE UNLOCKED "»iINPUT A*
C*(LEN(C*)-M)«A»
XIO 36,»1,0,0,C»
RETURN
REM FORMAT DISK
GRAPHICS Oi? i? "FORMAT DISK"
7 l? "CHECK DISK AND TYPE ’Y’ TO FORMAT "I,INPUT A*
IF A*<>"Y" THEN RETURN
XIO 254,#1,0,0,"Di"
RETURN
? I? "ERROR NUMBER "|PEEK(195)|" HAS OCCURRED “
? I? "RE-STARTING PROGRAM"
FOR T-l TO 800:NEXT TiRUN
22
PCN JULY 28-AUGUST3.1983
Now a business
spreadsheet
for home computers
Clear and easy to use
2000 cells
(600 in 16K VIC 20)
Global column
width adjustment —
Variable individual
column width-
Insertion or deletion
of rows and
columns
Save, load and
erge
ibilities.-
capal
22 mathematical
and statistical functions
With Practicalc you can use your 16K VIC 20 or
Commodore 64 to carry out sales forecasts, modelling,
cash flow projections and much more.
Compare the professional features and power of
Practicalc Plus or Practicalc 64 with other spreadsheets.
Compare the price. You won't need a
Formatting by cell
-or whole sheet
Fast alpha-
search
Comprehensive
instruction manual
Replication across
— columns and rows
Horizontal and vertical
titles can be fixed
Graphics facility
to display your results
Powerful alpha¬
numeric sort, highest to
lowest and lowest to highest
spreadsheet to calculate the best buy.
Computer Software Associates' products are
available from good computer stores or direct from the
exclusive distributors - Marketing Micro Software Ltd.,
Goddard Road, Whitehouse Ind. Est., Ipswich IP1 5NP.
Tel: 0473 462721 Telex 987515.
ALL THIS FROM AS LITTLE AS £29.95
Dealer Enquiries Welcome.
Another great program from
COMPUTER
SOFTWARE
ASSOCIATES
/~\l I VS 11 IX
o
Name...
Address
For more information send this coupon to: Personal enquiry ipiea*"^ □ Dealer enquiry ipieotekck) □
Marketing Micro Software Ltd. Goddard Road, Whitehouse Ind. Est., Ipswich, Suffolk IP1 5NP.
PCN JULY 28-AUUUST 3.1983
23
DON’T JUST STAND THERE
USE THE FAST LANE
28th September-2nd October Barbican Centre, City of London
The PCW Show is Britain’s most
popular micro event. Hardly sur¬
prising, with over 200 exhibitors
showing an exciting range of
micros, software and peripherals
for business and commerce,
education, science, industry and
the home.
But if you use a micro at work
(or are thinking of buying one)
you can avoid the crush. Just clip
the coupon below and send ith
with your business card and a
cheque for £2.00 (normal price
£3 at the door!). We’ll send you a
special “Fast Lane” ticket. And
you won’t have to play the wait¬
ing game.
THE FAST LANE
Plese send me one “Fast Lane" ticket to the
6th PCW Show.
I enclose my business card and a cheque
for £2.00 made payable to the “Personal
Computer World Show”.
NAME.
ADDRESS.
Send to Amanda Stephens
PCW Show, 11 Manchester Square
London W1 M 5AB
VIDEO LINKS
Now, the movie of the program of the story . . . Geof Wheelwright on micro-video links.
■ the Ferguson range of video recorders
seem to handle the signals of a number of
popular micros including the BBC micro
and the Spectrum without too much
adjusting to get a stable colour signal.
■ a video recorder with manual tuning can
more easily hold a strong computer signal
than machines with ‘automatic search'
facilities.
■ Sony televisions are often the best for
producing good colour pictures on a
Spectrum.
But once they've been hooked up to the
Sony video recorder the system seems to
suffer such interference problems that
neither the TV picture, nor the computer
signal on videotape is clear.
■ even a Hitachi video recorder using a
two-year old design and tuning mechanism
can tune into the signals generated by most
micros.
Program an
action replay
C omputers and video equipment are
the darlings of the 1980s consumer
technology renaissance, so it should
come as no surprise that attempts have
been made to marry them.
White the video recorder is not likely to
be anyone’s answer to cheap mass storage
in the near future, it can play an important
back-up role for your computer. Making a
habit of feeding the computer's video
signal through a VCR (video recorder)
every time you sit down for a long
programming session can often buffer you
against program crashes.
By videotaping your programming, you
can:
a) give yourself a permanent on-screen
record independent of normal disk or tape
storage;
b) analyse how you developed your prog¬
ram, to get perspective on how you
approached the problem and perhaps
prompt ideas for alternatives;
c) take a frame-by-frame look at graphics
animation and look at ways to make it more
realistic;
d) put off the decision to buy a printer, as
the VCR can perform much the same
function with an electronic ‘hard copy' as a
printer can with a paper version;
e) make better use of the two most
expensive pieces of electronic hardware
you're likely to buy (barring perhaps the
home stereo — which can also be inte¬
grated with your computer).
Just how you hook up your micro to a
VCR will depend somewhat on your
computer. Ironically, the cheapest compu¬
ter in the country is also the easiest to
integrate with a VCR.
Because it has no colour graphics and no
sound, feeding the Sinclair ZX81’s video
signal to a VCR is simple.
All popular home video recorders have a
socket at the back for a TV aerial and all
you have to do with the '81 is hook up that
TV lead from your machine to the VCR’s
aerial socket and tune it to around Channel
36UHF.
Then turn on the computer, set the VCR
to record and away you go. Videotapes can
hold up to four hours of programming per
tape, so you needn't be too worried about
having enough videotape to make real use
of the video-computer link-up.
And if you use, for example, one of the
increasingly popular four-head video re¬
corders to record a ZX81 signal, you’ll be
surprised at the quality of the freeze-frame
of your computer signal on playback.
The problem arises when you start using
colour computers or computers that route
their sound through the VCR’s speaker
system.
In order for a television or VCR to
reproduce either colour or sound they must
have a stable and synchronised signal. That
job is carried out by a sync pulse generator.
If that generator is not receiving either a
strong or stable enough signal from your
computer it will be unable to keep hold of
the signal long enough to either display or
record it reliably on the VCR. This applies
to sound as well. Care has to be taken in
trying to record through the TV sound on
machines like the Texas Instruments
TI99/4A. the Commodore Vic-20 and the
Atari.
While the ZX81 can be great buddies
with your VCR, its sister computer, the
colour Sinclair Spectrum often becomes
estranged from the machine by virtue of
the fact that its colour TV signal is (to put it
politely) sometimes erratic.
There are no hard and fast rules for
finding out which video machine will work
with which computers, although we can
offer a little advice from a series of
extensive tests.
PCN JULY 28-AUdUST 3,19R3
Now in chip form.
If your BBC Micro could talk, what sort of
accent would it have?
A BBC English one. of course.
Which is exactly why Acorn Computers,
w ho design«*d and built the machine, have
produced its very own speech chip featuring the
dulcet tones of Kenneth Kendall.
Caller! Speech Synthesis, it's a pair of
chips that can be plugged into your BBC Micro by
your local BBC/Acorn dealer. On them, you 11 find
164 words/syllables spoken in familiar fashion by
the famous retired newscaster, all of w hich can be
combined to form several hundred other words.
The chips also prov ide the “serial* proces¬
sing capability w hereby future software cartridges
can also 1m* plugged into the front of your
BBC Micro. (The machines vocabulary will be
widened via such cartridges.)
Priced £55, Speech Synthesis is available
from vour local BBC/Acom dealer. (To find out
where that is, simply call 01-200 0200.)
If voud like more information,
^WCORN he’ll complete the story. In plain
COMPUTER English, of course.
PCN JULY 28-AUGUST 3.19S3
PCN PRO TEST
HviliMiUf*—
If you’ve got designs on your micro, Nigel Cross draws his conclusions on two packages for the BBC.
Computing as
art on a BBC
Mm t12.95 (disk) Grafkev £7.95 (tape)
Grafstik £7 98 < tape I Pubimhar (lares
06065 51374 OUmt "room None Outlet* Clares
program and then display it accordingly.
The other method is to perform a full
screen save (about 21 IK) and the display on
screen outside the program control.
For those who wish to incorporate
graphic designs in their own programs
there is an extra program on the disk called
Redraw. This is a procedure which can be
appended to your own programs and thus
ailow stored picture arrays to be loaded
into the program and then displayed. What
a boon to those of us who enjoy adventure
games with fully displayed locations!
Verdict
This package could make a worthwhile
addition to anyone's program library. I
hope that Clares manage to maintain their
promise of continuing enhancement yet
still keep the price within reasonable
bounds. As a bonus for those w ho purchase
the disk version, new updated versions will
be available at only the price difference.
Features nn nn
Documentation nn
Performance
Userbilrty nnnn
Reliability
Value nnnnn
G raphics packages and systems come
in many varieties and prices, and this
suite from Clares for either disk or
cassette is reasonably priced and offers
many features. The system under review
was the Grafdisk version and arrived as a
disk and three pages of notes to act as
instructions. This seemed a bit scanty at
first glance but. in fact, it was adequate to
run the system with no problems.
Features
Normal operating allows you to use
standard geometric shapes such as line,
triangle, rectangle, text, and circle: Tech¬
niques available to you include rubber
banding, colour choice, paint and fill
options.
Getting started
The starting procedure is somew hat long-
winded with page after page of instruc¬
tions. It’s a good idea to arm yourself with
pen and paper on your first attempt with
this package. Once through this initial
procedure you are offered the opportunity
of being able to inform the system as to the
drawing device — joystick or keyboard. I
tried the keyboard option.
In use
A tear-off ruler for the function keys
resides at the bottom of the first page of the
notes and is most useful. This strip shows
all of the 18 facilities available, with 9 of
them accessible through the use of function
key 9 (acting in lieu of the shift).
Of this package's features, the facility
using fill as a toggle allows either solid or
outline shapes from the selection. This is a
good feature as long as you remember
which mode you are in. Paint is an
interesting function which allows both
“doodle" and variable "brush" widths; it
seems such a shame that this facility does
not allow finer control of width viz. point to
block to bigger block etc. — Todd
Rundgren did a version of this feature in
one of his programs once!
Colour choice turned out to be very
restrictive and seemed to allow only
foreground changes. Even so. the palette
allows 16 coloured boxes down the right
hand side of the screen filled with the
colours from which you can choose in the
mode you have selected — 2-colour.
4-colour or full 16-colour. Perhaps a small
routine could be included in future ver¬
sions to allow you to re-assign physical/
logical colours so that better pictures can
be generated in the higher resolution
modes. Also, it wouldn't take a great deal
of effort to allow changes in background
colour.
Cursor control for all picture drawing is
dealt with by either joystick or the cursor
control keys and can operate at 2 speeds
toggled by the space bar. This feature
certainly speeds up the drawing sequence
without losing accuracy and can be no bad
thing.
The strong point of this package is its
ability to do fully-fledged multi-point
rubber-banding. This is a technique for
creating a complex shape using 1 to 4
points, where the lines from each point are
attached to the mobile cursor giving the
effect of rubber-bands being pulled from
those points. This facility gives you far
greater accuracy and control when you
need to handle a number of lines connected
to an apex.
Picturescan be SA VEd and LOADed to
and from disk in one of 2 methods. The first
method is to save the picture array (about
IK) and thereafter load this array into the
PCN JULY 28-AUGUST 3.19H3
27
Slot "Mutant Herd' into your VIC 20 computer
and all of a sudden plutonium-crazed mutants will try
to eat you alive
Keep a look-out for falling boulders They’ll
crush you to death at any second
Avoid these successfully and all you have to do
is save the world by destroying the heavily guarded
Mutants eggs
"Ore Attack" (on ATARI 400/800/1200) isn’t
exactly childsplay either
Imagine yourself standing on the battlements
of a castle defending your Kingdom ajpinst an army
of ferocious Ores.
Watch out for the hail of deadly crossbow bolts
You’ve only got two lives to lose
And you've only got a few rocks, a sword and
boiling oil to defend yourself
Lose your head and you'll be decapitated
If your hands aren't sweating after that try our
other action packed titles
Therefc 'Fourth Encounter" (on VIC 20). an
exciting new game with 3 skill levels
The challenging "River Rescue' and "Music
Composer' are also on VIC 20
And to make the blood rush to your head the
successful “Submanne Commander" is now available
on VIC 20
Or, if you've got ATARI 400/800/1200. there's
the anxiety provoking “Jumbo Jet Pilot’ as well as the
best selling Submarine Commander,"
"River Rescue "and "Kickback;' all in the
shops now
Buy any one of THORN EMI
Computer gamesand you'll havetofight
off all your friends to use it
The world's greatest computer games.
PCN PRO TEST
SOFTWARE
Toolkit
for
design
Piict 19.95 (tape) 112 50 (disk I
( ompuiasolvc 01-39051 35 Otter veruon* None
MM) (ompuiasolvc
T his package has a lot in common with
Grafdisk. both in the people at which
it is aimed, and the kind of features it
has on offer. It also comes both on cassette
and disk. I used the tape version, and a
joystick — though you can also control it
with the keyboard. It comes with a small
instruction booklet.
Features
After the title page and the loading
procedure have been completed the main
menu is displayed. This menu allows
colour changes, saving of pictures, loading
of pictures, change of mode (4 or 5 only),
draw/edit. complete with a set of standard
geometric shapes, exit and the facility to
dump the contents of the picture to a
printer — Epson MX80 is currently
programmed.
Colours are changed in this system by
function keys 0 to 3 for the two modes
available. These have default values of
black, white, red and yellow, but can be
assigned many of the full range of colours
for the machine. Function key 0 is assigned
to background but you need to remember
that only 4 colours can be displayed at
once.
In use
Picture saving and loading take about 4V5
minutes, so should be done only when
you’re happy with the end result. Display
mode can be changed while the program is
running but there is a drawback to this.
Due to the two available modes being
mutually exclusive any display currently
on screen will be deleted.
The facility to dump the screen contents
to the printer is an excellent idea and takes
only about 4 minutes on an Epson MX80.
Having selected and assigned the
appropriate mode and colours then you
can get into the drawing itself.
In the drawing routine the function keys
0 to 3 allow you to change foreground
colour at will. An optional edit facility also
exists allowing individual pixels to be
changed to the colour of your choice by
using a magnify function. This is an
exceedingly powerful tool for graphic
design and allows remarkable accuracy.
The draw facility contains all the
standard sort of features you would expect.
lines, triangles, quadrilaterals, circles.
FACILITY
GRAFDISK
DRAFTMATE
No. of inodes
5(0.1,2,4,51
2(4,5)
Change mode
Yes
Yes—deletes current
picture
No. colours
2,4,8 (+8 flashing l (fixed)
2,4 (according to mode)
Foreground
according to mode —
palette select
(user definable) —
function key select
Background
Black only
User definable
Lines
Yes
Yes
Triangle
Yes—solid/outline
Yes—solid only
Rectangle
Yes—solid/outline
Yes—solid/outline
Circle
Yes—solid/outline
Yes—solid/outline
Text
Yes
Yes
Save picture
Yes—by array or screen
Yes—by array
Ixiad picture
Yes—by array
Yes—bv array
Print
Yes— not stored in array
Yes—Joystick only
Alignment grid
Yes
Yes
Multi-point R Band
Yes
No
Drawing tool
Joystick, keyboard
Joystick, keyboard
Edit
By over-draw ing
magnify area, adjust solo
pixels copy to picture
rings and text. And I found that the line
facility goes in from just one single point to
another, a pseudo-rubber-banding techni¬
que that is exceptionally responsive under
joystick control.
Verdict
This is a well thought out program with
plenty of useful tools to help you create
difficult graphics drawings and would be
well suited to the first-time computer
artist.
RATING
PCN JULY 2S-AUGUST 3.19K3
USE YOUR APPLE FOR STAR GAZING.
Buy MicroPro
WordStar or InfoStar and get a
n
CP/M WORTH
£223!
The CP/M is offered on a single board (StarCard) which allows
full implementation of MicroPro’s most popular programs.
It represents a saving of £233 to any owner of an Apple II.
II Plus or He microcomputer
This single board (instead of three) allows you to
expand the capability of your Apple to take in the world’s
biggest selling word processing package or a data base
Contac! Ls^n^urd
PCN JULY 28-AUGUST 3.1983
IPCN PRO-TEST]
An assembler for the Newbrain? Walter Knight takes a look at the operation behind the brains.
Assembler of order
T he problem with writing programs in
Basic is that although the language is
easy for humans to follow, it's virtual¬
ly meaningless to the machine. It doesn't
take long to discover that the most efficient
way to get your micro to sit up and beg is to
give it orders in machine code — those
baffling lists of hex pairs. An assembler lets
you enter your commands in assembly
ianguagc. then converts it into machine
code, which can be listed as a series of data
lines to be read as part of a Basic program.
Features
Brainzap by Andrew Pepper, from Wat-
kiss Computers, is an assembler/editor
program for the Newbrain that lets you
type Z80 assembly language directly onto
the screen, checks it as it is entered and
arranges it in one of a number of formats
according to choice.
The program is written in Basic, and is
supplied on cassette. Both these features
mean it is slow to load and use. but they do
mean it can operate on the unexpanded
Newbrain, which is a boon to those of us
who are starting small!
Within the limitations of its format.
Brainzap assembles the full Z80 instruc¬
tion set. contains an interactive editor, and
can output the listings in four different
formats to screen, tape or printer.
Presentation
The review copy arrived in a clear plastic
envelope, containing the cassette in the
usual flip-top box, and a 12-page instruc¬
tion leaflet. The instructions assume a fair
amount of knowledge on the part of the
user, and would-be students of assembly
language are recommended to read Rod-
nay Zaks’ book Programming the Z80 for
detailed instruction.
Most of the leaflet is taken up by a
description of what the program will do.
what will be seen on the screen as it
happens, and how to enter information. At
the end. there’s a sample program (printed
with an annoying disregard for the differ¬
ence between zero and O).
Unfortunately, there is less in this than
meets the eye, because the sample prog¬
ram as printed cannot be entered. It
requires a CALL to a subroutine HEX-
ASC (to convert hex to ASCII) which
should have been input in an earlier
exercise which does not appear in the
leaflet. Watkiss Computers hopes to be
able to send a revised instruction set to all
who have already bought the program.
In use
Brainzap loads easily from cassette — my
copy took six minutes to get almost 400
lines of Basic into the Newbrain. A line of
reverse video (black on green) then
appears asking ‘Do you want reverse
video? y/n.’ Once you have made your
choice, the screen clears and a prompt
appears consisting of the amount of bytes
left in memory (the Newbrain function
FREE) and a flashing > cursor.
The syntax required is well explained in
the instructions, with lines to be entered in
the form:
10 DSROOT: LD A. 16 ;load counter. In
the example 10 is a line number (unusually
required by Brainzap). DSROOT: is the
label, LD A, 16 is the op-code and
arguments, and ;load counter is the
comment that reminds you what you
thought you were doing when you entered
the line.
There are no on-screen prompts, so keep
the manual close by until you arc familiar
with the nine single-letter error codes that
may appear- I?? reports an unknown or
illegal instruction. U?? reports an unde¬
fined label, and so on.I couldn't crash it —
attempts simply produced error report I??
and the > prompt.
The manual is disarmingly frank about
Brainzap’s limitations. 'Brainzap'. it says,
‘doesn't do everything! They’re right
there; indeed it doesn't.
Some illegal instructions can be passed
(this is a function of a program written in
Basic to take up as little memory as
possible) and. like the manual says.
‘Brainzapcan be slow'. On average, it took
about seven seconds to compile each line
on the command LIST. A, which lists to the
screen an assembled version of the current
program.
The assembled form is not stored, so
each LIST. A command will take the same
time to execute — the same is true of
LIST.M for hex pairs of machine code and
LIST. D, which produces the machine code
in data form with Basic line numbers.
Programs can be saved and loaded in the
same forms, and listed to the printer with
TYPE. The program cannot handle mac¬
ros. micro-instructions, or relocatable-
code format; everything other than line
numbers must be entered in hex. and
attempts to enter long programs tend to
produce error code M?? — short of
memory.
None of these limitations — they are all
in the manual — detract from the fun¬
damental value of the program.
Verdict
This is the first assembler I have come
across for the Newbrain, and I wasn't
disappointed. Given a reasonable under¬
standing of the workings of the ZJtt).
Brainzap is a valuable tool.
The manual could have been more
carefully checked — it really should be
possible to enter and run the sample
program as listed, for example. But
overall, it'scertainly extremely good value
for the money.
RATING
Hmm Brain/.ip Application Assembler editor
Wet £9.95 System Newbrain PtMsJwr Watkiss
Computers. 4 Ninnings Lane, Rad lev Heath.
Welwyn. HerU(04.Vt)8l2439Fantat(.isscttc
LanguanH.isicOMmrsar smns NoncOnttrtsM.nl
order
PCN JULY 28-AUGUST3.1983
Powerful 84K RAM
40co*our displays to
monitor TV. High resolution
graphics and 3-dimensional
effect capability, music syn¬
thesiser Z80 additional
processor option.
ZX Lprint interface will enable your Spectrum computer
(16 or 48K) to print on any dot matrix or daisywheel
printer with 'Centronics' input (e.g. Seikosha, all Epsons,
Star, Shinwa, Oki Microline and many others). Just plug
ZX Lprint in and LPRINT and LLIST commands will work.
And because NO additional software is needed all of
your RAM is free to take professional word processing
programmes such asTasword 2.
High resolution screen dump can be done on many
printers using optional 'COPY' software.
!!2w e229.oo
ONLY
!■ 1 add £3 Mail order or Free C.O.D.
1541 Disk Drive for Commodore 64 £229.00
•HIGH RESOLUTION G RAPHICS PRINTING"
.CORRESPONDENCE •PROGRAM LISTINGS"
dlMELECTRONICS
26 Clarence Square. Cheltenham. Gloi, G150 2JP
JUPITER ACE
£49.95
DRAGON 32
£175.00
•WORD PROCESSING
•SPREAD SHEET PRINTOUT
•ADDRESS LABELS AND ENVELOPES
MAKEYOUR
SPECTRUM
WORK
FOR YOU!
PRICESLASHED
■■UiijLj*
£139
PCN JULY 28-AUGUST 3.1983
PCN PRO-TEST
PERIPHERALS
Ian Scales encounters a small creature with abilities in robotics and graphics.
Micros turn
turtle with
the Zeaker
C omputers are best k nown—and most
I used — for manipulating data.
whether it's in the form of business
finance, words or galactic mega-distrup-
tors in a game.
But micros also have the capability, as
yet little used in the personal computing
field, of directly manipulating physical
objects.
Now this area might be about to get a
whole new lease of life. The coupling of
even small-scale robotics with Britain's
biggest-selling micros opens a realm of
possiblities, and Colne Robotics has done
just that.
Its entry into the field is the delightfully-
named Zeaker Micro Turtle, not just a
turtle for a micro but a micro-turtle
measuring just Sin x Sin x 2in.
Turtles are now better known as on¬
screen graphics devices but the origin of the
species was a robot in the way of the
Zeaker.
The turtle wheels its way about a flat
surface wielding a pen under control of the
micro. Because the computer actually
controls a physical object rather than an
electronic image, educationalists greeted
turtles with ready acceptance.
But there is no reason why these fun
creatures should remain in the domain of
education. Colne Roberts has put them
into the hands of hobbyist.
The Zeaker was originally released for
use with the BBC Micro but a new version
is available for both the ZX8I and the
Spectrum. The good news is that it only
costs £79, including VAT. or £59 if you’re
prepared to build it in kit form.
Presentation
The PCN test model worked with the
Spectrum via the edge connector. The
Zeaker and its power pack are cased in
white plastic and although we received a
bare interface board, the production
model will no doubt come with a similar
casing.
Two ribbon cables connect the interface
to the controller and a single, two-metre
'umbilical’ cable runs from the controller
to the turtle where it is held aloft by a type
of gantry to stop it becoming twisted.
Instructions to control the turtle are
entered in a high level language — Snail
Logo in the Zcaker’s case.
All the turtle can do is move forward,
backwards, left and right, and raise or
lower the pen. The beauty of the concept is
that it's easy to get immediate results while
you can build up quite complex programs
to achieve good graphics with the mini¬
mum of keystrokes.
The Zeaker also possesses a set of
touch-sensitive bumpers so it can sense and
react to objects it encounters. It would be
possible, therefore, to run it through a
maze and get it to find its own way out —
with the appropriate software, of course.
Documentation
The documentation supplied with the
Pro-Test model was very much in rough
form, but as much of the advice necessary
to get going with the system relates to the
writing of Snail Logo one imagines that the
final documentation will draw heavily on
CP Software's own User's Guide which
seems adequate enough.
Fortunately, there is not too much
“talking down" undertaken here — the
documentation has an ‘adult to adult' feel
about it.
In use
Lets have a look at Snail Logo itself. Those
magical words ‘high level language' mean
that the user, conversly, needs a relatively
low level of computer understanding to get
to grips with it.
FORWARD N — moves the specified
number of steps in the current direc¬
tion.
BACKW ARD N does the same in the
opposite direction.
RIGHT N — Rotates the current
direction clockwise by the specified
number of degrees.
LEFT N — Does the same but anti¬
clockwise.
REPEAT N — Causes all instructions
following to be repeated the specified
number of times.
RFINISH — Terminates the REPEAT
effect.
SNAIL — Causes a Snail symbol to be
displayed at the end of each track.
NSNAIL — Cancels the Snail effect.
DOWN — Causes the Turtles tracks to
be visible (pen goes down).
UP — Pulls the pen up.
These are examples ol the commands
available in Snail Logo.
Like Basic. Snail Logo stores a series of
easy to understand commands. Each
command executes a block of machine
code when it’s called up by the program —
rather like building a prefabricated house.
Like house-building the prefabricated
approach in computer programming
makes the whole thing easier but com¬
promises somewhat on a programmer's
flexibility. Like the prefabricated house
builder you're limited to a relatively small
set of combinations.
As far as program levels go Snail Logo is
even higher on the scale than Basic. As
mentioned earlier, when manipulating a
Turtle you only have a certain number of
options anyway — forward, back, and so
on. It’s how you combine and repeat them
that's most important.
Snail Logo's main feature is the way it
can command the Turtle in a very
‘English-type’ way, without the imposition
of a lot of numbers or comparatively
complicated procedures.
When entering instructions you don’t
have to worry about line numbering, as you
do when programming in Basic. Instead
you simply enter a command. It reappears
numbered and verified at the top of the
screen a la Sinclair itself.
Snail Logo is loaded from Cassette in the
normal way once the hardware has been
configured. The normal sort of menu is
displayed and after setting a couple of
parameters you can get straight into the
task of drawing things on bits of paper.
The example used in the Snail Logo
documentation to introduce the newcomer
is:
REPEAT 6
BACKWARD 1
RFINISH
END
REPEAT 6 indicates the number of
times the operation below, in this case a
backward movement of one step, is to be
repeated. RFINISH tells the computer
that the repeating procedure is over and
END signifies the obvious. You can’t get
much simpler than that, can you?
Well, yes you can actually. Once this
little program has been keyed in it is
possible to define it as a separate procedure
by giving it a name and number. So when
you come to write another Snail program
you simply include the procedure as a
separate line.
To make it even easier the commands
can be defined on the keyboard with, in
most cases, their first two letters only. As
many of the commands err on the long side
(BACKWARD and FORWARD for inst¬
ance) this cuts down on even more hack
work.
Verdict
The Zeaker Turtle worked well, but was
noisy. Although it's a very versatile little
*«■ Zeaker Micro Tunic Maaafartarir Colne
Robotics Marfan ZX8I ZX Sped rum, BBC
Micro. PMm £79 inc VAT. plus interface for
ZX81 £13. Spectrum £24. (BBC requires
cable only) Cantaet (01) 892 8197.
PCN JULY 28-AUGUST 3.1983
rriHXTi
PERIPHERALS
tilled dcMj*n Wh;
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PCN PRO TEST
A high printer capability in one direction
will probably cause either a low capability in
another or a higher price. Economy is a
negative way of expressing price.
If a printer has lots of everything it will
close the price/performance gap.
9"***1 '0123456789:; <=>?@9BCD£FG
HlJKLnN0PQRSTUUUXY2CNj-_« A bcdtf9hUk Imno
pqrstuvuxyz(!)~B
David Janda examines the ins and outs of the newly released MCP-40 printer/plotter from Oric
I t is said that software can make or break
a micro. If the software is no good then
nobody will buy the machine. This, to an
extent, is now true of peripherals. Users
are not content with the basic machine —
they want to add to it with printers,
modem, joysticks and so on.
One Products International, which
promised a variety of peripherals to go wit h
the Oric-1, is now releasing the first of
them: the MCP-40 printer/plotter.
The MCP-40 is the first printer available
for the Oric-1. It will, no doubt, give the
Oric owner an opportunity todo some hard
copy graphical work as well as text
processing (of sorts). The MCP-40's role as
a plotter enables you todo some pretty neat
graphical work, and this is shown on the
printer demonstration cassette supplied
with the printer.
Features
The MCP-40 has an impressive specifica¬
tion. with many features to be found on
plotters at three or four times the price. For
your money, you get four-colour printing
or plotting, variable character sizes, and
pretty good plotting definition (0.02 mm).
There is software in a ROM inside the
printer, and this provides a range of
print/plottingfeatures. Axescan he drawn,
text can be rotated, plotting can be
absolute or relative and so on.
All these features can be accessed from
basic or Oric-FORTH. There is. however,
manual control over colour select, line
feed and paper change.
Documentation
The documentation supplied with the
printer is quite detailed yet confusing in
places. A brief section is devoted to setting
the printer up to a computer—I didn't say
the Oric. because it gets very little mention
n the printer manual.
All the graphic and text commands are
explained well enough and there is a long
example program at the back of the manual
for you to type in. I did and found that it has
several errors!
In use
Setting up the printer was very easy
although Oric omitted to say what amper¬
age the fuse should be. I tried a 4A fuse and
all worked well.
By default, the printer will give 40
characters per line, like the Oric screen.
But as the Oric only uses 38 columns for
listing programs, there will be a slight
wrap-round if the line is long.
All the commands and control codes are
passed to the printer by using LLIST.
There are control codes for graphic and
text modes as well as line feed and so on.
The pass graphical information to the
Plotting
with Oric
•rioting, tfe paper >*
HI M itdeway*. When printing
The four colours I red, blue, gr
hoMaroo the printer. To achim
Is In progress, a small lever oi
forward as well. The colours are changed by the barrel moving to the left of the printer where a small metal
lever ‘dicks' the barrel over to the required colour. The ink cartridges are good for 250 maters (825 feet),
printer, the data has to be held in strings of For £170 I think the MCP-40 is a little
text. So to change the colour of the pen to
red you would enter:
10 PRINT CHR$( 18): LPRINT “C2”
where C is the code to change colour
A few odd things happened now and
then. The printout got corrupted with odd
squiggles. and I found out that this is cured
by turning off the keyboard scanning
interrupts. Also, if you think that the TAB
function works strangely on the Oric, it
does so on the printer as well.
Usingas a separator caused text to be
separated to a wide degree.
Verdict
Throughout the tests, the printer worked
well. Plenty of ventilation is supplied to the
MCP-40 and there was no overheating.
The quality of output was fine, but the
black could have been a little darker. Noise
level was acceptable, but things tended to
get loud when plotting was in progress.
Another minor grumble is that the line¬
feed and paper change buttons are too
close together.
overpriced. However, it does open up new
areas of interest to Oric owners.
The biggest disappointment is that the
Oric's alternative character set (the
graphics) is not available on the printer.
All you have is upper and lower case and
numbers.
MhI MCP-40 pnnier/ptotter Mm £ 169 95 me
VAT Marfa* Parallel MacMaa One 1 Offer
varafew Tandy Colour Computer I
Oric dealers.
38
PCN JULY 28-AUGUST 3.1983
/M
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PCN PRO TEST
1
1
Barry Miles is still down among the daisywheels seeking high print quality at medium cost.
Printing Triumph
T he Triumph Adler TRD 170S is really
a fellow-traveller with the Triumph
Adler typewriter range. The idea is to
kill two markets with one set of compo¬
nents. This printer works slowly because of
its daisywheel typewriter mechanisms but
it is cheaper than daisywheel computer
printers because its development costs
have been shared with the huge number of
typewriter users.
The question is. does such a printer
compromise too many features for the
price saving?
Setting up
The machine arrived adequately protected
in the traditional polystyrene overcoat.
It was apparent immediately that much
effort had gone into the ergonomics of the
design. The white and chocolate two-tone
case was pleasing to look at, and smaller
than usual. The supporting panel behind
the platten was decorated with 10, 12 and
IS pitch scales, to assist in measuring.
The transparent lid which covered the
platten and print mechanism rested on a
foam base, which was about IA inch wide,
and inlaid into the surface. I noted no less
than four guides to hold the paper firmly
onto the platten. and three rubber rollers
for the same purpose.
Lifting the hinged body of the machine (I
understand that future models will cut off
the power when this is done), I spotted that
the dip switches were tucked away out of
the reach of all but the serious adjusters of
the machine, in a slot in the front panel.
They were however, readily accessible to
the determinedly-handled small screw¬
driver. Most of them do nothing at all. but
the important one. switching automatic
linefeed on and off, did. You can also set
NM Triumph Adler TRD 170S Daisywheel
printer Price £725 plus VAT Interiacee choice
of Centronics. Oume parallel. RS232 and
Diablo emulation Extras Optional tractor £125
plus VAT. mechanical sheet feed £595 plus
VA I Distributor I namph Adler (01) 250 1717
certain standard form lengths, and choose
language variants.
The front panel contained some very
smart touch sensitive switches. These
control pressure of impression, on a scale
of one to three, according to the thicknes¬
ses of paper being accommodated, on or
off-line. This is important, because the
printer powers up off-line, which is
unexpected, and likely to cause a bit of
frustration until you notice it. To set the top
of form, move to top of form, or make a line
feed, you press the switch for a long or a
short time.
A self test takes place if you press both
the switch for setting top of form and the
impnssi it switch at the same time. The
complete character set is then printed out.
This is worth doing twice, in order to satisfy
yourself that printing is working in both
directions.
The TRD 170S is rated at 16 characters
per second at about one line, and 12
characters per second printing average
Shannon 2 text. These are uninspiring
figures, but there are extra factors to be
considered. A wide range of daisywheels
are available, in various pitches and styles,
and a bonus from the slow speed is that the
character scan is thin and elegant.
Ribbons are large snap-on cartridges in
fabric, carbon, or multistrike carbon. The
ribbon carrier has a lever to set the amount
of ribbon transport to suit the pitch of the
wheel you are using, which is good for
economy.
Up and running
This is undoubtedly one of the most
pleasant printers to use. The designers
have thought the design through to its
logical conclusion, and the results are
pleasing. What I think they have done is
to examine the nature of the work most
frequently carried out on a daisywheel
printer, and decided that it is short letters
where quality matters more than speed,
and easy paper alignment matters. If the
printing comes out askew, a reprint is
always necessary. The concept is that the
total time from picking up the paper to
removing the completed document is
important. The loading of the paper is
easy. Simply pull a lever towards you to
release the bail bar, insert the paper behind
the platten. then bring the lever further
forward against the spring's resistance and
the paper will automatically feed around
the roller.
The fan is very quiet, and the printer
makes very little noise indeed, rather like
having a typist in the room with you.
The control codes offered by this printer
are somewhat sparse, but arguably all that
most people need. Backspace and under¬
line allow you to overstrike, and produce
perfectly underlined material. You can set
a left margin of your choice from character
position 1 to 256. It is possible to carry out
linefeeds forwards and backwards, reset
the form length, to set Bold and Shadow
printing, and also Proportional Spacing
from within software. Escape sequences
will also print the six additional characters
on the wheel. The speed of the machine
was slightly understated.
Verdict
The total design concept seems absolutely
right on this machine, the only problem is
speed, and the tendency for the first double
struck character to print slightly off to the
right, so it looks like shadow printing,
otherwise it is extremely attractive.
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PCN PRO-TEST 1
I With a glance at past and future, Richard King mentally constructs a new breed of micro.
Midsummer’s
dream machine
.‘c-
PCN JULY 28-AUGUST 3, IMH3
PCN PRO-TEST 1
A question
of intent
There comes a time in the life of anyone
who spends a lot of time looking at
different examples of similar objects when
the sheer number of the items under
examination means they all begin to look
the same.
The more so when the articles arc
computers. When micros were first intro¬
duced. they were all radically different.
Each had unique features, and almost
every one had some feature which made it
outstanding.
But look around today — practically
every one is cloned from one of three
stereotypes. There’s the Spectrum-type,
the Apple-type, and the Box.
A major aspect to their conformity is
that the Box types and many of the
Apple-types will generally only work in
one of two ways . . . CP/M or not, though
to all appearances, they’re identical.
There are undoubted benefits to be
gained from standardisation, which
needn’t be restated here, but a question
also arises. Namely 'Are the concepts
which underlie these standards the correct
ones?’
The problem lies in the fact that the way
‘ordinary’ computers are programmed
necessarily divorces the operations re¬
quired from the data which will be
operated upon.
If the methods used are reversed, and
the data is considered the important
member of the partnership, with the
program only being present in order to
make a specific change, we get an
altogether different outlook.
Most obviously, program mi ng a nd prog¬
rams lose a lot of mystique. and make most
of the latter outmoded. At the same time,
the analyst or information specialist be¬
comes more valuable, as do the files.
Since analysing and judging is precisely
what people do very well, the final result
should be a much more approachable
machine which works much the way people
do, albeit faster. It would be more literal,
rather less discriminating and possibly
more fallible. But it would also be a little
more accurate, and most important would
be easier to control.
This is because ‘nailing jelly’ is extreme¬
ly difficult, if not impossible. It's rather like
pelmanism — you have to remember a lot,
and while people are pretty good at
remembering impressions, they aren’t so
hot when it comes to detail.
Since it is difficult to do at all. much less
well, wouldn't it make sense for the
computer to do the bits that it’s good at.
instead of working like a fancy typewriter?
Hence the ’alternative micro’, which I
have called the X-1—a computer designed
to work so that its operation accurately
reflects the job it is supposed to do. It is
described in detail here, specs and all.
though, of course, it's an imaginary
machine.
T he main purpose of a computer isoften
confused with its operation. What it’s
actually meant to do is to change data
from one state to another, by a process
which is generally called a program.
The program is rightly considered a very
important part of any computer-aided
work, but this recognition has had the
result that the data, which is the raison
d’etre for any program, has been ignored.
The result is that programs are generally
written with little or no regard for the data
they will need. At best, variables common
to one sub-problem are given related
names, but related types or usages are
generally ignored.
The X-l is a machine designed with the
approach that the only non-arbitrary factor
is the data, and that any program is only
another form of data, which in this case can
be interpreted as a set of changes to data.
The general idea is that if the principal
object in the user’s view is the data itself,
and operations on it are shown as physical
changes in the data, then a more under¬
standable (and hopefully more useable)
machine will result.
It doesn't depend on new technology,
but on reorganisation of current technolo¬
gy. accompanied by re-packaging and
re-programming.
Construction
The physical construction of the X-l
doesn't need to alter to conform to the
philosophical principles stated, but since
most machines are difficult to work on, it’s
worth looking at.
X-1 is designed on the Bauhaus principle
that form should follow function. The
casing is made of glass-filled plastic resin,
and is about Min long, bin high, and Sin
deep. Ventilation-slots are covered by
perforated protective grilles mounted
flush with the top and bottom, and the
comers are slightly chamfered. Almost all
the surfaces have some details worth
examining.
All essential controls are accessible from
outside, but mounted internally, so that
only four long Allen screws, located at each
corner, have to be turned to free the deep
but essentially rectangular box of the top
half of the shell of the main unit, leaving a
shallow tray at the bottom.
Removing the top reveals the two main
circuit-boards, mounted on edge to allow
convective cooling. The front board has a
special supporting brace to prevent dam¬
age when an expansion-module is plugged
in.
The centre board carries a compact but
complete 16-bit microcomputer, with
plenty of RAM. a basic video-screen,
disk-controllers and various ports. Behind
is an extra slot, into which an expansion
memory-board may be plugged.
The lower tray carries the weight of all
items, and has a PCB mounted horizontal¬
ly. This is used to carry the various
inter-unit connections, as well as all the
power-lines.
The underside has a series of shallow
depressions, each almost but not quite
bridged by a flat tongue, so that cables
which may come from expansion modules
can be led cleanly out to the back.
Wrapping a cable around one of these
tongues provides an adequate degree of
strain-relief.
At each comer of the base is a large
rubber foot, and a hole which marries with
a toothed peg, so that the machine won’t
fall off its wall-bracket, if that's how it's
mounted. The front appears to have a
series of fine rectangular lines engraved on
it. These are, in fact, spring-loaded doors.
Pushing one causes it to swing in, revealing
a 96-way DIN-connector.
The top surface has a row of large round
buttons above these, running along the
front edge. If you press one with the
associated door held open you can see a
pair of plastic bars move forward a short
way. This is an ejector-mechanism, so the
modules which plug into the connectors
can be removed without damage.
Another important function is per¬
formed by the ejector-buttons, which have
two distinct depression-pressures. The
lighter one gives a signal to the base-
processor. and the other actually shoves
the module out of the connector. When a
particular module gives the signal that it is
being closed down (its button is being held
down), the base-processor quickly informs
any processes which may be.using' that
module. This may involve terminating the
process, initiating another module to the
same task if one is free. or any other action
which the user may have suggested as an
appropriate course of action.
This slightly complicated procedure is
necessary because the X-l is meant to
remain on all the time, even while
field-repairs are being carried out. which
may involve removing or replacing a
module.
It has other advantages, too. since if the
base-processor is faulty, a diagnostic
module may be plugged in without shutting
down. This can then take over control by
forcing a priority bus-request. and can look
at the base-processor as a module itself
(which it is, in fact). The advantage lies in
having the memory of the base-processor
freely accessible, probably containing
clues as to what happened when the fault
occurred, and so permitting some chance
of recovering the data.
The other side of the machine has a
‘hood’ which lifts up. Underneath are a
series of different sockets, three parallel,
three serial, several kinds of TV/monitor,
tape and audio sockets. Each has an
associated switch.
In the case of the serial and parallel
ports, these are DIL microswitches, and
multi-way miniature rotaries for the
others. With them, preset configurations
can be selected, but this is a convenience
only, since many settings (in particular the
parallel and serial ports) can be changed by
software.
The ports are sufficient to allow reason¬
able access to the base-processor, and
limited access to other modules, providing
1/0 for the keyboard, printer, (serial and
parallel), plotter, modem, and terminal, as 44 ►
PCN JULY 28-AUGUST 3.1983
PCN PRO TEST
well as colour monitor (both RGB and
composite) and modulated TV on Channel
The cables are led out through the slot
underneath the hood, which clicks into
position. and can also be shut securely with
a pair of sliding bolts. The hood itself is
sufficiently thick to be as stiff as any other
part of the case, protecting the delicate
items under it. and allowing strain-relief
clamps to be fitted to the cables.
The rear half of the top surface shows the
front of a 3in micro-Winchester drive at the
left end. with the opening of a 3.5in
micro-floppy beside it. so the actual disk is
popped out like a piece of toast.
Filling the rear right-hand third of the
main unit is the power-supply. Since the
X-l is intended to remain on most of the
time, this is not just a simple PSU with an
on/off switch — there are special arrange¬
ments. On the top isa green indicator-LED
to show that it’s switched on. and a red one
which is usually off.
On either end are deep depressions
which serve as handgrips. Underneath
each is a hatch with a small handle. Under
the left-hand one are some buttons and a
small LCD screen. 20 x 4 characters, as
well as several LEDs.
The buttons perform fundamental
checking procedures when pressed, and
the result is reported on the screen. As a
check, one of the LEDs lights for each
major function. Using three-colour LEDs,
the statuscan be shown—green for OK but
not in use. yellow for OK and in.use. and
red for failed.
Under the right-hand end hatch is the
power-switch. There arc. in effect, two
power-switches. One is an ordinary rock-
er-type. but beside it is a small Yale-type
lock. The power will be locked on if this is
turned to the on position while the rocker is
on: if the rocker isn’t on. the Yale can’t be
turned. This eliminates any possibility of
the machine being started incorrectly.
Reversing the procedure will power-down
the machine.
HARDWARE
In order to make sure that all these
precautions are not rendered useless by a
passing fopt kicking out the power-cable,
this is bolted into a socket with a large
central screw running through the middle
of the plug. Naturally, since the plug at the
other end has to be some standard type,
similar security is not automatically avail¬
able. but it would be well worth installing
something like this in the wall.
In fact, even if an accident does happen,
it isn’t fatal. When the power drops below a
certain level the red LED lights, and at the
same time a pleasant — but nonetheless
highly noticeable — beep sounds for ten
seconds.
This actually means that the emergency-
batteries have been called on. When
they're in use. the machine gives a
disconsolate little sequence of three bleeps
every minute. The batteries themselves are
a set of high-current NiCads. charged from
the mains and capable of supplying power
to the machine for 30 minutes . . . enough
to give the user time to tidy up the current
job and close down.
If the user doesn’t manage to complete
this in time, the machine docs its best to
keep everything safe, so when the batteries
have been used for 75% of their endurance
it goes into the •emergency shut-down’
procedure. This involves copying the
whole contents of the memory onto a
special area of the Winnie, effectively
saving the status, which then allows a safe
(if not elegant) shutdown.
This also means that the user can’t cause
any major damage. even if he turns off the
machine correctly, but without having
ordered the termination of all subsidiary
processes, thus taking the machine to
Level 0 and closing all the files properly.
Recovering from such an event is fairly
simple. When the power is restored anil
after the machine has gone through the
booting process, it looks to see if the
system-directory is marked as having a
valid emergency-file. If so, a panic power¬
down must have occurred. The user is told
about this, and asked if he wishes to
attempt a return to the pre-emergency
situation.
Answering yes will load the memory-
image . and — we hope — the machine will
then be in the same position as it was in
when the panic happened. Of course, this
isn’t exactly the same. because the machine
has been off in the meantime, so the
memory-image, and all its associated
processes, are now running at Level Start
+ 1. ie as a "supervised process’. This means
much what it says. . . that the process now
running is not the base-process, but is being
observed by another process. I’ll explain
the effect of this later.
Storage
Storage on a machine like the X-1 will get
used up pretty fast, so there’s plenty of
it . . either l()Mb or 100Mb with vertical
recording on the Winchester, and 500K on
the micro-floppy, which would rise to 5Mb
with vertical recording.
Both operate with cache-memory if this
is possible and sufficient memory is not in
use. and the proportion assigned to
cache-usage can be allocated by the user at
supervisor-level.
Expansion
As explained in the section on construc¬
tion. the X-l can take a range of
expansion-modules. Modules come in two
different flavours . . . intelligent or
damned smart. An intelligent module is
one which has some limited programmabil¬
ity. or a program in ROM which is
executable by some processor. The other
kind actually hasaprocesorof its own on it.
and can thus function independently of the
rest of the system, barring the need for
power.
Provided the task accomplished by the
module doesn't take up too much time and
doesn't have to be done too often, an
intelligent module can be used. Tasks
Tli* rear hatch covers the main Input Output connectors arranged in Mochs. Parallel are at one end. serial in the centre, and the miscellaneous ones.
PCN JULY 2S-AUGUST 3.19R3
THEBUG STOPS HERE!
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COSMIC CONVOY
Huge transporters ferry the vital
supplies across the dangerous space-
lanes, always in convoy. You command
a small desperate group of Hyper-Viper
destroyers. Save the entire population
by protecting as many transports as you
can, against the nastiest pirates in the
cosmos. 100% machine-code. ^
So much more than shoot-em-up. /
/It
FOR THE
QRlC-11 commodore
IABBERWOCKY give you the chance to become a secret
igent! Can you reach London with the secret plans before the
CGB reach you?
rhis adventure game with Arcade Action features single key
:ommands for fast, real-time excitement! Written entirely in
nachine code for the 48K Spectrum!
VILL YOUR AIRLINER REACH IT DESTINATION?
:an you out-shoot the enemy?
VILL YOU EVEN FIND THE GUN?
VHO IS MRS. BORGIA?
JABBERWOCKY SOFTWARE
610 WASHWOOD HEATH ROAD,
BIRMINGHAM B8 2HG.
Access or Barclaycard Orders Ring
021 326 6394
I enclose cheque P O payable to Jabberwocky total £ or debit my
Access/Barclaycard
LX1I 1 1 1 1 I1.111U1J
WANTED MACHINE CODE PROGRAMS - EXCELLENT ROYALTIES PAID
Send to Jabberwocky Software. CIO Washwood Heath Road. Birmin«ham B8 2HQ
JABBERWOCKY
◄44 which would take up too much of the
base-processor's time can be handled by
on-module micro-proceSsors, which would
do as much as was practical.
Intermediate results would be processed
independently, cither in the module itself,
or by another module, which in this case
would probably be a pure processor,
operating in parallel on another bus. In
either case. the last processor in line would
then transfer the final result to the
base-machine, which would store it on the
disk.
Operation
The rationale for the X-l is its operation,
and this is where the philosophy is most
clearly exemplified. In essence the X-l is a
kind of hyperthyroid 'state-machine'. It
only exists to change from one state to
another, the doing of which will produce
some kind of result.
When a state involves a device which is
comprehensible by the user (such as a
screen or printer), output is obtained, and
if the previous changes involve a state
which is interpretable by the user, then
useful output is produced.
Notice that at no stage was any assump¬
tion made as to what is. and what is not.
correct. This is avoided so data may be
handled in any way which may seem
appropriate to the user. The X-1 isn't going
to presume to tell him that what he's doing
doesn’t make sense. But that doesn't mean
that it can't try to guide him, tell him what
he’s got and how he got it. let him undo it.
returning to a prior state, and generally
assist.
The principal operation for the X-l can
be stated as Record any changes that have
occurred’. If that were carried to its logical
conclusion it would mean recording every
data-movement, no matter how small. But
no matter how m uch storage was available.
it would be full in seconds, even with a
small, slow machine.
Fortunately, there’s a method of doing
what amounts to exactly the same thing,
and doing it in a practical fashion, meaning
in a reasonable space. Since the only
changes that matter are the ones which
actually ‘hit the outside’ so to speak, all we
have to do is to record them. We can afford
to forget the actual ones which produced
the second state from the first. Obviously,
this will consume much less space.
The basic idea is as follows: The only
thing which must be known in order to
process some data is the ‘shape' of the data
before processing, and the shape after¬
wards. Further, the operations needed to
make the desired change only form
another set of data!
In practical application, this means that
provided the machine is given a picture of
the data which bears a reasonable rela¬
tionship to the situation, then there is no
possibility of an incorrect program.
That’s a pretty tall claim to make, so I’ll
add the caveat that this also means that all
output, no matter how useless, is correct,
since it is no more than a set of data,
processed exactly as instructed. The user
PCN PRO TEST
HARDWARE
alone is responsible for deciding whether
that output means anything.
If this sounds like a very circular
argument, let me explain that the X-l is
provided with tools which will (hopefully)
reduce the need for the user to try
interpreting his.perfectly correct output,
by eliminating the chance that he will give
an incorrect set of instructions, and so
won’t produce any garbage.
This is accomplished by means of a kind
of ‘super-interpreter’, like Occam. Any
changes which are made to the current
state are immediately shown, the effect is
shown. and the command which caused the
change is recorded, as well as the former
state of the effected item.
Since the result is immediately apparent.
there is less chance of progressing far down
a wrong path, and even if this happens it
isn’t much problem, since each change can
be undone in order, allowing the user to
backstep. When the data has been success¬
fully changed to the desired state, the
entire sequence of necessary operations
has been performed and recorded. A
process has been ‘nailed down'.
To reactivate the process, it is only
necessary to order the computer to use that
data-set as a set of instructions. Of course,
since the instructions are only data as far as
the machine is concerned, they too can be
operated on as data!
‘So how would you actually make a
change to the new data. Or come to that,
how would you input new data-shapes?
The odd thing is that it doesn't matter!
You could use a keyboard with some kind
of interpreter, a light-pen and the
keyboard combined, or even (if we’re
being really trendy) a mouse. In extreme
cases you could even use voice-input,
remote-control over the phone, or any
other method which seemed appropriate.
The point is that the actual details, just
like for output, are implied by the change
required and the device in use. The
machine can take care of the trivialities.
Since the only data we are really
interested in is either input or output, and
so long as the internal records can be
suitably converted before becoming out¬
put , the only thing you would have to do is
to describe the data to the machine using
whatever device is currently active.
This is what regular programming is all
about. But as we know, it doesn’t work
very well, so on the X-l the data — or at
least a representation of it — is always in
view in the form of a screen display.
Producing a display is not just a simple
matter of writing stuff on the screen, but a
complex task, a lot of which is concerned
with making suitable changes, as well as
making suitable adjustments so that the
layout is aesthetically pleasing. The
changes to the data have to be made so that
it’ll mean something to the viewer, and the
adjustments so that it can be read. It
doesn't take long to realise that much of
this will be common to any device, so it
would make sense to have just one copy of
the routines.
Whenever a routine is needed, it can be
activated, used and restored to its former
state without interfering with any other
process which may be using it. If each
common detail is reduced to a single
PCN JULY 28-AUGUST 3.1983
47
*447
IPCN PRO TEST
H M iimHF
occurrence, then it will be impossible to
create a data-conflict. . . something can’t
conflict with itself!
On the X-l. the user doesn't have to
bother with details of device-handling.
This is because the operations required are
implied, if not explicitly stated, by the data
concerning that state.
If a graph has been shown on the screen,
and later a hard copy is wanted, then the
user shouldn't have to do anything to the
data itself, since the output is only a
representation of that data. All he should
have to do at most is to invoke the process
again, but specify the plotter as the output
device, rather than the screen.
Any set of data can be grouped, and
whether it is interpreted as a collection of
text-records in a file, as a picture or as a
program, is left entirely up to the user. He
specifies what is to be done with the data,
not the machine, so if it seems useful to
view a lot of five byte floating-point
numbers as Os and Is. then there's nothing
to stop it being requested.
All you need is a reason for doing
something, and as soon as you have that,
everything, no matter how stupid-looking,
becomes perfectly sensible.
How the X-l appears will depend partly
on how much it's been used. This is because
the user alters the default screen-format as
he goes along . . . and here’s another clue
to the internal operation. When the
machine is turned on. a data-set is loaded
from disk. This is a collection of lists,
containing the last set values for all kinds of
operating-details, but if an emergency
shut-down occurred. then an addition copy
is loaded.
Naturally, this image is the same size as
the memory, so it won't fit with the base
data-set in there as well. not to mention the
processing instructions, no matter how
they are held. To overcome this, the
memory image is analysed, and all
irrelevant state-images are discarded.
Such images would include any processes
which had to have been completed before a
fixed time, those which could no longer be
performed because the relevant data-sets
were no longer available or for which a
specific piece of hardware was needed, but
has been removed, and so on.
Whatever is left is then scanned to
remove any data which is duplicated in the
base set (i> the same data, with the same
function). The remainder is now small
enough to fit. and can be used as a
subordinate data-set. supervised by the
operations contained in the base data-set.
The process can now be continued,
deactivated as the user orders, and as each
one terminates, less and less remnants of
the problem state remain.
Of course, all this assumes that the user
has provided some kind of data to work on.
But when it’s first turned on (very first
time, or after a complete erasure of the
disks) there isn’t any.
In order to get round this, a default
data-set is provided which (if it's available)
is loaded from the micro-floppy on bootup.
This contains default-values for all operat¬
ing parameters, data-sets which can be
interpreted by the screen-handler as
forms, the same for the printer and other
devices, and data-sets which can be used as
instructions, thus providing utility com¬
mands.
In use this data-set is modified by the
user, mostly by interpolation and compari¬
son. which allows the machine to modify
the data-set so that the user makes levs
requests to change the format.
What happens is that whenever the user
modifies a piece of data in certain
data-sets, the machine makesanotc of this.
Next time a change is made to that same
parameter a new entry is made in the list.
Eventually the list will fill up. and when it
does, the machine looks to see if there is
any common feature. If so. it isfairly safe to
assume that this is some kind of habit of the
user. Thus, it would make sense to set that
parameter to this value, or at least to ask if
it might be a good idea.
Of course, this also means that the user
has to keep insisting before a new value
becomes fixed, so a short-cut is available
which allows any value to be reset
immediately.
The most frequently used method lies
somewhere in between these two. On
many occasions it isn't convenient to force
a change at base-level, and it isn't
acceptable to take the default, so a process
is permitted to make a temporary change to
that parameter. The effect isthat whenever
that process is active, and has control of the
service to which the parameter applies,
then the 'local' copy is used.
This is actually accomplished by invok¬
ing a base-level process as though it were a
subprocess of the active process. The
reasoning is that if a process (albeit
inactive) is present in memory, then it
doesn't make sense todone it. Far better to
save its status, invoke it afresh, use it. and
restore the previous status afterwards.
What are we going to do with it switched
on all the time, then? Play around with
the known data, for example, or look in
sensible places for more. It could be useful
to scan the various public-access data¬
bases. collecting any pages which have
references to ‘interesting subjects' (de¬
fined as a list by the user), or alternatively,
look through the known data to see if there
are any common features in files which
have been defined as unrelated.
It isn't terribly important to make any
fixed decisions about what should take
place because, again, this is entirely up to
the user ... no need to say that printer¬
spooling is an activity which can be done in
the background, or in slack moments . . .
anything can be done at anytime, for any
reason.
The other wh hatch reveals various self-checking controls with three-colour LEDs to show the status ot
MC'6800(or possibly a 16032) running at 12.5 MHz
Base-processor80 x 24. othersavailable as modules
3in micro-Winchester. 3.5in Sony micro-drive
8K(2K self-check. 2K bootstrap. 4K monitor)
128K minimum. expandable in 64K blocks to 1M K
3 programmable Parallel. 3 programmable Serial
16slots. each carrying a switched. isolatable copy of the main bus
None needed
£2.000(minimum)—you don't expect all this for pennies, do you?
PC'S JULY 28-AUGUST 3.19H3
YOUR SEARCH FOR COMPUTER
GAMES ENDS HERE AT...
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With the latest creation from
New Generation
An action game that needs nerve and
quick reactions! Hurtling through a void,
your task is to travel as long as possible,
scoring points along the way. Be careful
though as you will have to avoid your own
trail and those of up to four chasers. As
trails are left you will have to thread your
way through, but don't forget the more trails
the less space for manoeuvring. You will be
terminated when you finally get caught in
'the Knot'.
For 48K Spectrum and compatible with
Kempston, AGF and Mikrogen joysticks.
'It is the most astounding thing you'll
see for a long time' - Popular Computing
Weekly. kM/,
Hir
_ PIum d*M my Aco**a Via* AMaxOckib —
_ t-
SOFTWARE WRITERS ■ Lump turn or royalty paymant* Sand tap** and datall*
(Tap** not r*tum*d unlaaa ratum poataga I* included)
ZX81 COMPANION
PRICE SLASHED!
THE
ZX81
COMPANION
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New Generation Software FREEPOST Bath BA2 4TD
This standard manual for serious ZX81 users
contains sections on:
GRAPHICS & REALTIME TECHNIQUES
INFORMATION PROCESSING
EDUCATION
THE ZX81 MONITOR (bid disassembly)
and was described by 'Your Computer' as
"far and away the best" ZX81 book.
Send cheques for £2.50 to:
L1NSAC
PCN JULY 28-AUGUST 3.19*3
What’s your game? Find out in PCN 's weekly freeze-frame of the action.
DUNGEON ADVENTURES
DRAGON 32
Tombs of
treasure
Nmm Franklin's Tomb System
Dragon 32 Pabhihir Salamander
Software Fermat C assette Law n m »
Basic Outlets Mail Order from
Salamander Software and dealers.
What's a nice guy like me doing
in a game list this? All the blurb
in Franklin's Tomb. Salaman¬
der's latest jaunt for the Dra¬
gon. suggests it's about private
dicks, seedy bars, damp
cigarettes and invariably sticky
lamposts.
But the game rapidly de¬
scends into yer-run-of-the-
dungeon adventure. Franklin's
tomb is the First of a series so bits
of it will provide clues for future
releases ... all good clean fun.
Objectives
The objective is simply to ‘solve
the riddle’. Despite a 20-page
(one reasonable bilge and thir¬
teen of seedy illustrations)
booklet. it's not clear what your
aim is. Oh well, visit every¬
where and collect anything
that's not nailed down. It’s a
shame there is no scoring
system.
In play
For an adventure written in
Basic. Franklin's tomb does
very well. Response times are
not so slow as to be unbearable.
You get a 'window' display with
where you are. possible exits
and your ill gotton gains always
on display ... it saves every¬
body a little hassle.
Apart from an opening
theme that reminds me of a
certain brightly coloured cat.
the only attempt at sound and
graphics is a beep when each
command has been dealt with.
Conversation is limited to the
usual two-word commands
such as REAL BOOK. OPEN
DOOR and PLAYGAME.
There’s the welcome and
much needed ability to SAVE a
game in mid play. But it could
do with a few rough edges
clearing up. There's no cursor.
It won’t take D for down.
Other than that, there are no
surprises. Well . . . none that
wouldn't spoil the game if I told
you. Franklin's tomb isn't as
difficult as some. The caves feel
crammed rather than desolate.
Books with messages in them,
statues hiding keys and so on
won't be beyond most players.
You're also helped because the
caves are essentially unpopu¬
lated.
Verdict
Franklin’s Tomb is a competent
little game. It is going to appeal
more to first timers than the
hardened cave crawler . . .
though the threat of a con¬
tinuing series is very attractive.
Still, ‘when you’ve been in this
business as long as I have,
sugar, one dungeon looks pret¬
ty much the same as the
next. . Max Phillips
RATING
Lasting appeal
Playability
Use of machine
Overall value
SPECTRUM
Haunted
rescue
r House of Horror
1 48K Spectrum Price £7
’ Lasersound. Stratford
Workshops. Burford Rd. London
EI5 Fermat C assette language
Bask and machine code Other
vonteno None Outlets Mail order
Hot off the presses we have
Hummer House of Horror — a
part, we are told, of a 'sensa¬
tional collection of mind warp¬
ing games' from Captain Laser-
sound. It’s an adventure game
set in a haunted house. and your
objective is to race against the
clock to rescue . . . well a
maiden, of course.
Getting the thing loaded in
the first place was something of
an adventure. Enter LOAD’"',
say the instructions, and 'the
process is entirely automatic
from there on.’ This will puzzle
many an unfortunate novice, as
the automatic process involves
you stopping the tape half way
through to collect your instruc¬
tions.
Objectives
Once you've actually got it
loaded, experienced the leng¬
thy and rather nifty commercial
for Lasersound — the best
graphic in the game — and
cooled your heels while the
computer tells you ‘Please
wait’, you can then start your
quest.
You are in one of a series of
rooms — round about 60 on
four floors. In these rooms
you’ll encounter objects and
creatures which arc alleged to
help you in your search.
In play
But hold on there, you may say
— the cassette wrapping says
'superb3D graphics'. What you
actually see before you is a
line-drawing representation of
a room in 3D. a label at the top
telling you who else is there —
the Wild Woman, the Witch
etc. and if you're lucky, a small
graphic representing an object.
You don’t see the creatures,
and the objects are so small
they’re easily missed.
You move around by the
usual method, although picking
up objects is tiresome, as you
must. for example. specify 'Get
Fido’s din dins’ — I kid you not
— down to the last apostrophe.
The next problem is that 'for
the unwary arc traps'. This
actually means for the unlucky
arc traps. There are various
occasions when you blunder
into something and get trapped/
killed. but as these seem to be at
random rather than at fixed
locations, it’s impossible to
learn from your mistakes.
Verdict
The problem with this game is
that it’s very difficult to proceed
in the way you normally do in an
adventure. It isn’t an ongoing
learning process, as you're
generally knocked out of it by
random hazards rather than
avoidable ones.
Theoretically I suppose it
could be cracked. but it's more a
question of probability than
skill, and I gave up after several
fruitless and not very entertain¬
ing hours. John Lettice
RATING
Lasting appeal
Playability
Use of machine
Value for money
PCN JULY 28-AUGUST3.1983
LEAPS & BOUNDS
COMMODORE 64
Jumps for
Jupiter
Commodore 64 Mm £27.50
PmMMmt Epyx Fermat Disk
Lmcmb* Machine Code Other
rer al ee e None Outlets Maplin
Electronic Supplies Ltd. PO
Box 3. Rayleigh, Essex SS6
SLR. Tel: 0702 554155
This latest arcade game, sup¬
plied on disk for the Commod¬
ore 64, owes a little to Donkey
Kong, the game that has you
leaping over barrels and climb¬
ing girders to rescue the maiden
in distress.
Objectives
Your joystick controls a little
man, whose job is to climb to
the top of all thirty one levels of
play, and thus save Jupiter
Headquarters from destruc¬
tion.
On your way you have to
climb up and down ropes,
ladders, girders, take flying
leaps into space, and avoid a
hail of missiles, dragons, gun-
fighters and many other
hazards, while still managing to
pick up treasures.
First impressions
The initial screen gives you a 5
option ‘menu’ before play can
commence.
You can start the game at a
beginners, intermediate or an
advanced level. progress
through all the levels in seque¬
nce, or take a random option
and just be swept along, never
knowing which level you’re
going to encounter next.
Up to four players can join in
the fun. and each individual
level also has a choice of eight
playing speeds, ranging from
slow to suicidal
Ihe helpful manual suplied,
as well as telling you how to play
the game, contains a number of
valuable hints for achieving
vast scores.
In play
Making wonderful use of
graphics and sound, the game
requires much more than just
quick reactions. As you start
being chased by robots, or
collecting treasures that render
you invisible, you also have tc
be able to think, and solve the
problems presented to you
logically as well as quickly.
Perhaps two girders don’t
quite join up, the ladder snaps
in two after you’ve climbed it,
treasures hang in mid-air
seemingly beyond reach, or any
one of a hundred other prob¬
lems face you as you go through
the levels.
All of them can be solved, but
it will take some time, and your
seven lives seems a meagre
allowance.
Verdict
The best arcade game I've seen
for the Commodore 64, and one
that will have you playing well
into the early hours of the
morning. Fast and frustrating
it is simply brilliant!
Puts Garrard
RATING
Lasting appeal
Use of machine
SPECTRUM
Sizzling
power line
Nhm Jumping Jack Mas
16K Spectrum Met £5.50
PaMUhar Imagine software 051
236 0407 Fanaat CasseLc
LangMga Machine code (Mats
Sinclair dealers
Remember learning kerb drill
or even the Green Cross Code?
When you stood at the edge of
the pavement looking right
. . . and left . . . and right
again and if all was dear, then
cross keeping a constant watch.
With Jumping Jack, you can
relive those dear dead days,
only instead of charging across
the street, you have to leap up a
set of red lines which not only
won't stand still, but are also
infested with ghosts and dino¬
saurs and all those everyday
hazards.
Objectives
In six lives, you have to get to
the top of a set of eight moving
red lines by jumping up through
the gaps that appear randomly,
and running to avoid falling
through gaps that appear in the
line you are standing on. And
when you’ve got to the top of
one set of lines, you get another
set, but this time complete with
a menace which will knock you
flying. The more screens you
complete, the more menaces
— but each time you fall back
down to basecamp, you lose
another life.
In play UmMrmcMm ««««
Imagine has come up with yet Value fW WWW
another game that has good
graphics, an original plot, and
the sort of game you just can’t
stop playing.
Jack, the hero, is a Hungry
Horace-like pair of eyes on
legs, looking left and right as
you wait for a suitable gap to
appear in the line above you.
And as soon as the line he's
standing on is threatened with
an approaching gap, and you
get him running left or right. his
dinky little legs go nineteen to
the half dozen.
If you try to jump through a
suitable looking gap too soon or
late. Jack apparently gets elec¬
trocuted — are these red lines
power lines? — and lies on his
back waving his legs in the air.
While he’s incapacitated, and
looking uncannily like a heli¬
copter, holes creep up beneath
him, so it's quite easy to end
jp at square one.
The lines can also hunt in two
directions, so as fast as Jack
tries to run one way, he’s still in
danger of being confronted
with another hole headed
straignt for him. A dirty trick.
Complete a screenful, and
you get a line of—well, poetry?
It’s a limerick that starts out ‘A
daring explorer named
Jack . . .' and presumably gets
even worse.
Verdict
Stirring stuff, simple but very
addictive. You get enough lives
to make a fair impression on the
game even on startup. As there
are only three keys to bother
with, left, right and up, you
won’t get your digits in a twist.
SMrtey Fawcett
RATINGS
32
PCN JULY 2*-AUGUST 3.1W3
t SECTOR 7 SOFTWARE
GAMESPACK
FOR THE ORIC 48K
7 GAMES PROGRAMS ON ONE CASSETTE FOR £7
LASER-STATION — A planetary space duel
On i loner red mrang ftm cNNnd youf IM* mitmuor' from i Oncmaig »W|r u<»
OBSTRUCTION - Territory, trap* and skill -
Sim row Mot* around ftt loan raanding mo movomomj al One I
dead and trap u-mout t**n) nuo a am yountfl
M A2A TRONIC - A 3-Dimensional Maze Exploration
-- aonalmait Mw* mrougMlu
a your «•» to mo tail * tatonoong gano
MILLIBLOX — A Points-Scoring Chase through 7 sectors
So*on nclon to nplort as Buo rnmioe* mdM^llii^Wo^m'WCa ^rou MwJQM l
NOUGHTS AND CROSSES — The Traditional Game
Throo sW mall lo pram* won mo roungost gomosMf «*h a swtaM opponom
MATHS-TEST — Combines Maths and Fun
is on oat CASirm ion rum «nm
Send cnogu. or TO lor f 7 ID
SECTOR 7 SOFTWARE
PO BOX S NEWTON ABBOT. DEVON
PURCHASE LEDGER
AVAILABLE NOW
forZXBI 16K
Spectrum 48K
Dragon
Commodore 64
handles up to 100
accounts, invoices, payments, VAT handling and
analysis. Selectable print options.
SALES LEDGER ... spec, as Purchase Ledger.
COMBINED DATABASE . . . fully definable, vast
spreadsheet storage, rapid calculations. Terrific
value.
MICROLYMPICS 1 . . . each containing 10 action
MICROLYMPICS 2 . . . games. Selection of stan¬
dards (Pac-Man, etc ), plus new amazing
games.
ALL TAPES COME WITH FREE BACK-UP TAPE
IN PRESENTATION BOX
SINCLAIR SPECTRUM
ZX81. 16K 48K
C9 95
COM 64 DRAGON
£12 95
Please rush me.
TOTAL SUM INCLUDED: £
Please make cheques and PO
payable to
ANIK MICROSYSTEMS.
30 KINGSCROFT COURT
BELLINGE. NORTHAMPTON
Everything for the Acorn and BBC microcomputer user.
ACORN USER EXHIBITION
Cunard International Hotel 25-28 August 1983
Hammersmith,
The Acorn User Exhibition at the
Cunard, Hammersmith will house the
largest display of Acorn products ever
'assembled under one roof. It will be four
days of non-stop entertainment and
^ lucation for parents and children alike.
The new Electron, the second
processors for the BBC micro, the BBC
Buggy, all the new software and hardware
will be on show. There’ll be competitions,
prizes, Acorn experts to answer your
technical questions, demonstrations and
lots and lots of bargains.
If you are an Acorn owner, or just
thinking about being one, you can't afford
to miss it.
Opening hours: August 25th-27th,
10am-7pm : August 28th, 10am-4pm.
ADVAT^FBTOKTNGCOUPbN'
Admission charges: Adults £2 per
ticket, Children £1 per ticket.
We have arranged for nearly every
exhibitor to redeem the cost of your ticket
when you buy something from their stand.
Group rates: 10% discount for parties
of 10 or more.
Busps: Frequent services from central
London.
Tubes: Hammersmith Broadway -
Metropolitan, District and Piccadilly lines.
Car Parking: Several car parks in the
immediate area.
For details of exhibition stands and
advance ticket sales contact Computer
Marketplace Ltd, 20 Orange Street,
London WC2H 7ED. Tel: 01-9301612.
r> queue - buy your tickets in advance.
Please send_Adult tickets at £2 -Childrens tickets at £1
enclose a cheque/postal order value £_payable to Computer Marketplace
GAMEPLAY
effect being reminiscent of a sky
rocket at the moment of its
starburst. Beware, the debris
can destroy your own ship.
In play
The title page is created to the
strains of an extremely impress¬
ive version of the Star Wars
theme, showing off the 64's
powerful music capabilities.
This is followed by a screen
menu of the game's options.
You can play on any of four
difficulty levels: beginner, reg¬
ular. advanced or expert.
Mountainous terrain can be
introduced, missiles can
ricochet off the screen edges,
and the top four scores (with
scorers' initials) can be display¬
ed.
The ranking system lets you
enter three initials, in large size
letters, against your score. The
options can be used in a variety
of combinations and are each
selected by pressing one of the
function keys.
One thing that neither the
cassette sleeve or the program
tells you is that you can return to
the menu after each game by
pressing the upward arrow key.
Verdict
The whole program, from title
sequence and option menu to
game and ranking system, has
all the marks of professional¬
ism. I found it a delight, as well
as great fun, to play. With more
programs like this. Rabbit Soft¬
ware might well corner the
market in Commodore 64
games software.
Bob Chappell
RATING
Lasting appeal ftftfl
Playability
Use of machine
Overall value
SHOOT ’EM DOWN
VIC 20
Alien
Waves
Name Fourth Encounter Ipatam
Vic 20 Price £25 PtMahor Thom
EMI Fenual Cartridge La«a«a
Machine axle Outlets High street
dealers
Fourth Encounter, confides the
blurb, is a space game with a
difference. You can be forgiven
if optimism once again
triumphs over experience. I too
thought this might be the one
some of us have long hoped for.
the game where you really do
befriend the aliens instead of
vapourising them. The one
where, by flashing a few lights
and playing the right jingle, you
are accepted into the galactic
equivalent of Thomas Cook's
Travel Club
Alas. . .
Presentation
There are books designed not to
be read but only to grace teak
bookshelves. Thom-EMI
seems to have copied the con¬
cept in its computer games: the
packaging here is nothing short
of gorgeous.
The cartridge, in hunky black
plastic, comes in a matching
case with a booklet of instruc¬
tions featuring a full colour
illustration. Lavish?
Unfortunately, the blurb
gives the game away. ‘Wave
after wave . . . blast your fero¬
cious foe. . . lethal laser bolts."
In play
Dedication is called for here.
Press ‘FI' to get the menu then
set skill level, choose play or
practice mode, one or two
player game then you're off.
Don't die too quickly because
you have to go through that
rigmarole every time around.
Once into the game things
improve. The graphics and
sound are excellent.
After that, what is there to
say? Everyone knows the sce¬
nario (wave after wave etc). In
keeping with the Gucci packag¬
ing these are jolly cute aliens —
the first bunch look like Chinese
lanterns, the second like Disney
cartoon jellyfish.
The big build-up, of course, is
for round four (Fourth Encoun¬
ter!) but Thorn-EM I spoils It .ill
by letting you go straight to it in
practice mode.
But it'sallsodull. Everything
happens at a suitably fast and
furious pace, lasers zap in
deadly fashion, foes attack
ferociously, wave precedes
wave according to script.
It'simpossible to fault Fourth
Encounter (though Thorn
could zap its master of cliche in
the blurb-writing department)
and equally impossible to
praise..
Verdict
If you have teak bookshelves
standing empty against your
designer-matched fabric wall¬
paper, buy it. If not you can buy
better programs for one third of
the price.
Best of all. buy a real Space
Invaders. You can't beat an
original masterpiece.
Peter Woriock
RATING
Lasting appeal
Playability
Use of machine
Overall value
COMMODORE 64
Whirling
Wonder
Nhh Cyclone System Commodore
64. joystick Pries £5.99 PsMshsr
Rabbit Software 01-863 0833
fensst Cassette Language Machine
Code Other Versions Vic 20 Outlets
Mail order, dealers
This is one of the few arcade
games where it is a pleasure to
be defeated by the aliens!
Cyclons has some rather good
variations on the usual shoot-
em-down arcade game.
Your space ship is a revolving
sphere-like craft, the faster it
whirls, the faster it moves and
fires. Motion is smooth and
accurate. It takes a little prac¬
tice to get the hang of controll¬
ing the ship. If it meets the edge
of the screen, it bounces back.
Although it can fire in any
di rection. it will only do so in the
direction it is currently moving.
Objectives
There are only two types of
enemy. The first are small red
lightning flashes which spin
head over heel around the
screen, carelessly tossing out
missiles as they go. They tend to
blow each other up if you can
keep out of their way.
The second is a spinning
flying saucer which unerringly
heads after you. Your sole
objective is to score as many
points as possible before losing
all five lives.
When either you or the
enemy are hit, the result is
rather beautiful. A shower of
coloured lights explodes across
the screen, accompanied by a
gentle ‘woooosh’. the total
PCN JULY 28-AUGUST 3.1983
FOR THE BBC MICRO
SOFTWARE
TINY PASCAL — Pascal-T is a 16k Eprom program capable of
compiling Source Pascal into a compact and very fast threaded-
interpretive-code Full editor and disc-support are included and the
program is supplied together with comprehensive documentation
PRICE £59.00 + V.A.T.
X CAL — An expert Computer Aided Learning package in 16k
Eprom and support disc No programming skill required to
construct learning sessions as the program is screen' driven.
Facilities include Text pages. Graphics and Histograms
PRICE £65.00 + V.A.T.
LOGO-FORTH — A 16k Eprom program introducing this very
powerful but extremely fnendly Turtle-Graphics language Users
also have full access to the Fig-Forth support nucleus. Full
documentation is included PRICE £59.00 + V.A.T.
(Special discounts available for educational establishments for all
the above software)
HARDWARE
Always in slock Printers. Disc Drives IC's etc.
FOR THE EPSON HX20
SOFTWARE — FORTH ROM including full documentation £3472
HARDWARE — Expansion Unit. Paper, Microcassettes etc.
Please phone for Quotes
Retail Mall Orders Dealer enquiries to:
HCCS ASSOCIATES
533 Durham Road. Low Fell. Gateshead.
Tyne & Wear NE9 5EY. Tel. (0632) 821924
Retail sales also at:
HCCS MICROCOMPUTERS
122 Darwen Street. Blackburn. Lancs. Tel. (0254) 672214
THE HOME COMPUTER SPECIALIST
ONE STOP SHOPPING FOR
ALL YOUR COMPUTER NEEDS
BBC
MODELB
MICRO *Wd
1 £399
fs commodore 64
£299.00
DRAGON 32
£155.00
ORIC-l
£149.95
SHARP
48K MZ-80A
£399.00
NEW SHARP CASSETTE BASED
BUSINESS SOFTWARE NOW AVAILABLE
SOFTWARE
PROGRAM POWER
BUG-BYTE
SUPERIOR SOFTWARE
A+F
SIMON HESSEL
MOLIMERX
LLAMASOFT
ACORNSOFT
PERIPHERALS
DISCS SINGLE DUAL
TORCH Z80 DISCS
CUMANA DISCS
PRINTERS
JOYSTICKS
MONITORS
B&W COLOUR
LIGHT PENS
BBC BUGGY
LARGE RANGE OF BOOKS,
DISKETTES. CASSETTES &
PRINTER PAPER ALWAYS
INSTOCK
Easy parking at all branches
TOLWORTH
230 Tolworth Rise South.
Totworth, Surbiton,
Surrey KT59NB
01-3374317
SUTTON
30 Station Road
Belmont. Sutton
Surrey SM26BS
01-6422534
EALING
114 Gunnersbury Ave
Ealing
London W54HB
01-9925855
RICKMANSWORTH
Greystone Works
The Green. Croxley Green
Rickmansworh
Herts W033AJ
(0923) 779250
MILTON KEYNES
Unit 1, Heathfield
Stacey Rushes
Milton Keynes MK126HP,
(0908)317832
NEWBURY
26 Stanley Road
Newbury
BerksRGl47PB.
(0635)30047
QUALITY
SOFTWARE
FROM
1YTEWARE
Tl 99/4A
Crunch
700
Duel
6.50
Bobsleigh & Biorythms
450
Qimon & Robot
4.50
BBC
Ught Cycles
695
Space Caverns
695
Yatzhee
695
French Vocabulary
750
Commodore
Spook 64
795
64
Superfile
1495
AVAILABLE FROM YOUR LOCAL DEALER OR
DIRECT AT NO EXTRA CHARGE
Cheques payable to Byteware, Dept PCN,
Unit 25. Handyside Arcade. Newcastle NE1 4PZ
PCN JULY 28-AUGUST 3.19K3
FCN ProgramCards
Stand by your keyboards all owners of
Vies. Spectrums, BBCs and Commodore
64s. There are ProgramCards for all of you
this week.
To start with, a game for the Spectrum
from Richard Jones, of Stafford. Money
Maze is a spot of harmless larceny with the
player attempting to find the money in the
maze and make a run for it, all the while
avoiding the attentions of the guard.
Still on the games front, we have a simple
but addictive game for the Commodore 64.
Bomber, from Jamie Clyde. of Edinburgh.
is a version of one of the standard computer
games which involves you in blasting a city
to smithereens in order to get your plane
down safely.
ProgramCards also features two utility
programes this week. The first of these is
from Jason Hobbs, of East Tilbury. Essex,
and is for the Vic 20.
It is a simple filing system that will allow
you to catalogue a small collection.
Even if the application doesn’t interest
you, it might be worth entering and
running the program because Jason has
used some excellent effects in the introduc¬
tory sequence which could be transported
to your own programs.
Finally, from A Phillips, of Southport.
Merseyside, there is a character definition
utility for the BBC Micro.
As it is presented here, Definer runs on
the Model B but with the following
modifications it will run on the Model A.
Change line 70 to Mode 4; change line
350 to YELS = CHRS 17 + CHRJ 1; and
PCN Programs Editor
PCN wants you. That is. if you can
understand and explain other people's
programs, spot a bug in the heart of a
listing, have done time on a number of
micros running different dialects of Basic
and have more than a passing familiarity
with Pascal. Fourth and other popular
languages
If this sounds like you. write with CV to:
Cyndy Miles. Editor. Personal Computer
News. VNU. Evelvn House. 62 Oxford
Street. London W1A 2HG.
finally, delete line 650. The program allows
you to define characters 224 to 255 andsave
them to tape. To get them back simply use
•LOAD “CHARS".
A RUN for our money
We pay for published programs on a sliding
scale which take into account length,
complexity, originality and the program¬
ming skill demonstrated in the program. So
why not give us a RUN for our money?
As well as the cash, you recieve the
satisfaction of seeing your byline on the
ProgramCard — which will, of course, be
snipped out and filed away in the libraries
of thousands of micro enthusiasts through¬
out the country.
Send your contribution, on disk or
cassette, together with a plain paper listing
and brief summary notes to:
The Programs Editor. Personal Compu¬
ter News, VNU. 62 Oxford street, London
W1A2HG.
All disks and cassettes will be returned as
soon as possible after evaluation or
publication, at our expense.
155
156
Start of main loop
Decrement time counter
Do you suffer from
PCNitus?
Thousands do! So, specially for all
you sufferers who want to keep PCN
immaculate, easily accessible and out of
reach of grubby hands, we've designed
this attractive PCN binder.
It's red, yellow and silver and will
hold four month’s copies.
No more grappling in the back
of cupboards; no more bent and
creased pages!
Your copies lie completely flat,
even when the binder is full. You'll be
able to read them easily and refer to
them quickly. And well post the binder
to you in a batter-proof package at no
extra cost.
It’s an attractive price, too. Only
£3.50, including postage, VAT and
handling. Use the coupon here or, to
avoid defacing your copy of PCN, write
out your order clearly and send it with
payment to the address given.
BINDER ORDER CARD. Please rush me PCN binder(s) at £3.50 each. I enclosed my cheque made
payable to Personal Computer News. Please charge my Access/Visa/Diners/American Expresscard 'SZZ2.,
Account No...Name.
Address.Town.Postal code.
..Signed.
Send to Personal Computer News, Binders Department, 53/55 Frith Street, London W1A 2HG
PCN JULY 28-AUGUST 3.19K3
57
PCNProgramCards
> Money Maze Card 2 of 3 V.
8321 MM2 3
157 PRINT AT
158 IF «=« THEN 08 TO 4999
160 LET e-c<IINKEV*«"6" AND q(e*l,d>' >1 AND c<29)-< INKEY*-"7" AND q<c-l,dl<>l A
ND c >3>
170 LET d-d<<INKEV9--B" AND q<e, d<l>< >1 AND d< 30) - (INKEY*»"5" AND q<c t d-l>Ot A
ND d>3>
180 LET a-a<<c>a AND q(a<l,b> l»-<c-a AND q<a-l,b>< 1)
IPO LET b-b*<d>b AND qla,b>ll<>ll-ll'b AND q(a.b-l) I)
200 PRINT AT at,bit" " 1 AT cl,dll” -* FLASH HAT a,bl"£"tAT c,dl"<“
219 IF a-c AND d«b THEN DO TO 500
220 IF q(c,d>-2 THEN LET p»p<INT <RND<19XI9<I9I LET q<c,dX9
239 IF (c-3 AND d-31 OR (c-20 AND d-J) OR <c-3 AND d-39) OR (c-29 AND d-391 THE
N DO TO 1590
235 IF <INKEY*-"t” OR INKEY*»“T"> AND OW-9 THEN LET OW-11 GO SUB 3900
249 GO TO 155
509 PRINT AT 9,91'VOU WERE CAUGHT WITH '"IplAT 1,01 "ON YOUR HANDS-"»AT 2,01“
SEE YOU IN PRISON' "IAT 3,91 "PRESS ""V FOR ANOTHER GO"
519 IF INKEY*o-y" THEN GO TO 519
520 RUN
909 STOP
1909 FOR «•! TO 25
1919 LET a-INT <RND<18X3
1915 LET b-INT <RND<28I<3
1020 PRINT AT a,bi“’"
1939 LET q<a.b>-2
1940 NEXT f
1950 RETURN
1590 PRINT AT 9,91"YOU HAVE ESCAPED WITH '"IplAT !,8!"WITH "»•«" TINE UNITS TO S
PARE"I AT 2,91-PRESS "*V“" FOR ANOTHER GAME”
1519 IF INKEY*<>*y" THEN BO TO 1519
1529 RUN
180-190
200
210
220
230
235
240
500-520
Move guard
Print guard and robber
Check for capture
Check for money
Check tor escape
Check for enclosure
End of main loop
Defeat and option for another
90
1000-1050 Printmoney
1500-1520 Success
FCNP rogramCards
Money Maze Card 3 of 3 v.
8321 MM3 3
2999 PRINT "ENTER SKILL LEVEL... <I-HARD TO 9-EASVI'
2919 IF INKEY9-"" THEN GO TO 2919
2929 LET 1-CODE INEEY4-4B
2923 IF x<l OR 1>9 THEN GO TO 2919
2939 CLS
2949 RETURN
3999 PRINT AT c-i,dl* *IAT e-l.d|- "IAT c,d«ll" "IAT c,d-I»’ “
3919 LET q<c<l,d>-9
3929 LET q<c-l,d>-9
3939 LET q<c,d<l>-9
3949 LET q(c,d-l)-9
3959 LET a-a-29
4998 PRINT AT 9,91"YOU HAVE RUN OUT OF TIME... IAT 1,91"YOU
INVERSE 91” HAVE ' "IplAT 2,91 "PRESS "T* FOR ANOTHER GAME"
4919 GO TO 1519
8999 BORDER 6i PAPER 6l INF. 9l CLS
8829 CLS 1 PAPER 11 UR 7
8949 PRINT AT 1,131"MONEY"1 AT I,131 OVER 11"_"
8959 PRINT AT 3,81 "IN THIS DANE YOU HAVE TO ESCAPE .FRUN THE SCREEN 10 CINE OF
Tic .COLOURED SOU ARE 5 IN THE CORNERS -WITH AS MUCH HONEY AS POSSIBLE, “
••"BEFORE THE TIMER RUNS OUT. TO .MAI E MATTERS WORSE THERE IS A -GUARD
WHO CHASES YOU. IF YOU ARE" ” "COMPLETELY ENCLOSED YOU l>
SSI NO -T*
8969 PRINT AT 21,91 INK 61 PAPER 21"
8979 PAUSE 9
0989 PAPER 6i INK 8t CLS I RETURN
-ESCAPE BY PRE
2000-2040 Input and checking routine for
skill level
3000-3060 Sub-routine to delete
surrounding squares in
enclosure
4000-4010 Run out of time Option tor
another game
8000-8060 Sub-routine for instructions
PRESS ANY
TO CONTI
OUT NOW! Sll IDEAS
FOR YOUR COMPUTER
In the Inmac catalogue of ideas
for your computer check to see
what is in the latest issue for you:
Cables, cables and more cables!
How to order custom-built cables.
When to use screened cables. How to
choose the right EIA RS-232 extension
cables for your VDU’s and how to
connect your Apple, Commodore, or
other micros to Qume, Diablo, NEC
printers. Compatible cables for
connecting new peripherals to your
DEC, Data General, Hewlett Packard,
IBM, Osbourne, and
Tandy computers.
Lifetime Floppies Read about Inmac
Plus — the floppy
with a lifetime
guarantee!
Choose from
our range
of 100%
error-free
disk
cartridges,
disk
each with a 3-year replacement
guarantee.
New Ideas! Dozens of exciting
new products — many never seen in
Europe before now — and lots of
helpful hints on getting more from
your computer department.
Service and Quality — a promise
you can rely on! We promise a next
day delivery service of our products, a
30-day risk-FREE trial, and a 12-month
trouble-free quality replacement
guarantee.
Send today for your FREE cata¬
logue with no obligation to purchase
— but be warned: you will want to
buy once you have
read the Inmac
catalogue
ideas book!
Machtn* modal Sord M23 MKII, MKV
MKVI Sord V?43 *11 mod*<*. Sord
Exactly what
been looking
A microcomputer is only as useful as the software package run on it. And -
until now - finding the package tailored to your needs (or your customers’) hasn’t,
been too easy.
Now, Microcomputer Software Directory is here. It’s the complete guid^
for buyers and sellers, helping you both identify and - just as importantly -
locate the most suitable software packages.
We’ve included details of over 3,000 painstakingly edited
business packages, as well as some of the more exciting games.
Sord
Finding the right package
A glance at our twelve main category headings confirms
just how comprehensive Microcomputer Software Directory is.
3,100 software products are listed, under these titles: Systems
Software* Utilities* Accounting* Management Systems* Other
Business & Commercial Systems® Professional Services* Industry
& Manufacturing* Retail & Distribution* Scientific* Educational*
Government* Games/Home/Hobby* Miscellaneous*
Each entry gives the package name, function, supplier, cost
and also tells you which machines it will run on.
Matching with your machine
If you already have a machine, you’ll want to know about
compatibility. So we’ve included an index by machine make and
model. And. just to make life easier stiU, we also cross refer
machine type with operating system.
Principal application* Accounting
Names of software products
Stock Recording. ASS PayroH/Parroll
Knowing where to go
There’s little point in identifying the perfect package unless you know
where to go for it. Our separate alpha listing of suppliers provides all the
information you need; addresses, phone numbers, who to speak to. and an
outline of which other packages are available from them. This section could save
you a few fruitless journeys.
GMS - Garage
System (page
23)
Pinpointing
special needs
Some packages may be
tailored to the unique require¬
ments of your business or
profession. The quick reference
Occupation Index at the back of the
book can cut your search time to
minutes. And if you already know of a
package by name, just go straight to it
They’re all indexed by title and acronym in
the A-Z index. _
In short, if you want to find exactly what you’re looking for. Microcomputer Software Directory is exactly
what you’ve been looking for.
MICROCOMPUTER SOFTWARE DIRECTORY
The Complete Guide for Buyers and Sellers.
I would like to receive a copy of the Microcomputer Software Directory Order by using this form
and take advantage of the special Introductory price of £19.95. or quote your card number
Signature_
My address
Pay on receipt of invoice □ I
Access □ VisaD
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My card number is_
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L_
_ My telephone no
Alternatively order by telephone 01 323 3211.
Please send this order form to Computing Publications Ltd. Evelyn House,
62. Oxford Street. London W1A 2HG.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ PCN211
PCNProgramCards
Collection
Card 3 of 3
440 PRINT-CENTER TITLE-
443 INPTJTT*
430 F0RI-1T023
460 RERUN*.B*
470 IFR*»“Z22“THENPRINT"JbORRY "T* PRINT" SIS NOT IN YUUR»*0M»eCOLLECTION*" GOS ,
UB535
430 IFT*»R*THENPRINT“!«rh* PRINT-IS IN VOUR COLLECTION" PRINT"IT MRS MRDE IN "8*
GOT0300
43® NEXTI
50® PRINT "*ii* RE ii RNV KEY TO* JKETUPN TO OPTIONS*"
510 OETR* IFR*-""THEN310
520 PRINT-S” G0T0221
340 WtTRPLERSE PLERSE (IE. 196i
530 DRTRFROM ME TO YOU.1963.SHE LOVES YOU-1963
360 DRTRI WRNT TO MOLD YOUP HMNI>. 1963
570 DRTMCRN T BUY HE LOVE.1964
360 IiRTMM MRRD DRY S NI0HT.1964.I FEEL FINE. 1964
390 DRTRT 1CKET TO RIDE . 1963, HELP. 1963
600 DRTMDRY TRIPPER,1965
610 DRTRPRPERBHCK 1*1 TER, 1966
620 DRTRVELL0I4 SU8MMPINE,19b6
630 DRTRPENNY LRNE.1967,RLL YOU NEED IS LOVE,1967
640 DRTRHELLO GOODBYE-1967.LRDY MRDUNMh.1966
63® DRTRMEV JUDE,196®.GET BMC! .1969
660 DHTRTME BRLLRD OF JOHN MND VOKO.1969
670 DRTRSOMETHING,1969.LET IT BE.197®
680 DRTMSGT.PEPPERS LONELY HEHPTS CLUB BRND.1967
690 DRTRZZZ.ZZZ
Reads data Returns 722 r»item
not found If search successful
pnnts message
Maintains display and waits for
key press before returning to
menu
End routine Change screen
and border cotour, print
Datalfcfbstitute your own
information in this section
PCNProgram Cards
>er Card 1 of 3
Bomber
A simple but addictive game with six skill levels Set Program Card8307CC for control codes.
0 GOSUB1000
D GOSUB2000 GOSUB710 P0KE54296.15
0 FORJ-1TO30
3 FORT-20TORND^ 1> • 10* < 9-LEV > +5STEP - 1
0 POKE 1024*J+404T.160 P0KE55296* J+40* T.3
3 NEXTT.J
? REM ♦ MMIN LOOP *
3 F0RB-7T019 H-LEV*1 FQRR-0TO39 O-N*40*B
3 GETR*
3 IFM*«" "THENGOSUB500
5 IFPEEK (. 1025* 0; = 160 T HEN400®
3 PUKE102340,32 P0KE55295+0,6
3 POKE102440,252 P0kE 55296*0.c
3 POKE 102540.98 P0KE55297*0,6
3 NEXTR GOSUB400 NEXTB
3 OOSUB800 GOTO210
3 REM • DELETE PLHME *
3 POKE102340,32 P0KE55296.2
3 RETURN
i REM *FIR1NG ROUTINE «
3 H-H-l IFH .1THEHPETURN
5 F0R0-B42T013 g«R*404O
3 IFPEEKa0244W)*160THENGOSUB6®0
3 POKE 1024*14-40,32 PGKE55256*W. 2
3 POKE 1024*14, 30 P0KE552364M, 2
3 NEXTO
3 RETURN
Commodore 64
Commodore Basic
Application: Game
Author: Jamie Clyde
100
200
210-240
Call up initialisation sub-routine
Call titles and instructions sub¬
routine
Build skyline
250-330
Loop to move plane across sky.
detect bombs away, report
crash and update score
400-440
Remove plane at end ot each
pass
500-550
Drop a bomb if any left on
current pass
BACK ISSUES SERVICE
HOWTO GETTHEM
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from our new Back Issues Service, using the | Name...Telephone (day).
coupon printed here. Street
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PCN JULY 2K-AUGUST 3,1983
J
PCNProgramCards
Bomber Card 3 of 3
4070 PRINT'S",TABU0VWGHBING TOP TEH -
4060 PRINT
40*6 FORO-1TO10 PRINTTAB<5>O.TABUe>H<O>.TABt20>H*<O> NEXT
4100 PRINT" DU PRESS FUNCTION KEY 1 TO RESTART
4110 GETR* IFR$O"B"THEN4110
4120 GOT0200
44*9 REN • ENTER MEW NAME 4
4500 F0RC“9T01STEP-1 H(C*l>-HtC) H*(C»I>*M«<C> rCXT
4510 PRINTTAB*10>"W««*I£LL DONE"
4520 PRINT "•BULGUR SCORE IS IN THE TOP TEN SCORES'
4530 PRINT"«WB»BM*DF-LEhSE ENTER YOUR NMME
4540 INPUTHSU. HSU >-LEFT$(H»<I > , 191
4560 H<.I>“S 1*10
4570 RETURN
5999 REM • TITLE PAGE *
6060 REM
6010 PR I NT " 0 " FM-* BUNKER •' LEV-1
6020 F0RUI-1T03? PRINTTHBtUI
6036 IFUI>14THEHPRIMTTHB<15)"T‘,LEFTStFS>UI-14,>
6035 FORGH-1TO10
6046 NEXTGH.UI PRINT"TJ“,TAB<30>” "
6045 PPINTTMB' 7>
6056 PRINT"** ,TMB«.121"SBONBS PER SNOOP ".LEV
6060 PRINT* TMmilMI DESTROY A GROUP OF BUILDINGS"
6670 PRINT"MNNNHlh ‘E FEW BOMBS PER SWUGF "
6080 PRINT IHMH U RELEASE BOMB PRESS SPACE-BP*"
6090 PRINT IIIIBI ‘ ESS FI Tu CHANGE NO.OF BOMBS"
6095 PR IM >•»»*. Milt ENDS WHEN YOU HIT BUILDING"
6160 PRINT MUinntl ~ A P P V LANDING S"
6110 PRINT ’lUMMKi:* PRESS SPACE BHR TO BEGIN "
6120 GETDK
6136 IFDK-" "THENRETURN
6140 IFDSO'B"THEN6120
6150 LEV*LEV*1 IFLEV-7THENLEV-1
6160 PR1NI euiww* TAB*. 12J "ZBOMBS PER SWOOP ".LEV Gu106120
10006 DHTHwOg.0.129.255.255.6.0.255,15 65.255.255
10010 DATA?.53,8,23.8. 147,9, 159, 10.265.11, 114,12,216.14. 107,16,47. 17,37, 19.63
10020 DATA21,154,22.227.25,177,28,214,32,94,34.75,38, 12c 43-52,45.198
Routine to display top ten
scores and names with prompt
for next game
Routine todisplay instructions
and allow change in difficulty
level (numberof bombs per
10000-10020 Data statements tor
user-defined graphics loaded
by routine at 1010-1020
mt rLtAJBLt LUmKU I tK bYSI t/»l hUK I Ht FUIUKL
SOFTWARE
i a variable on cassette only Prices include VAT and post and
packing)
ORIC FORTH language Requires 48k machine
Price £15 90
ORIC BASE *or the maintenance of personal and small
business information Requires 48k machine
Price £1540
ZODIAC adventure game Requires 48k machine
Price £ 10 39
ORIC CHESS Requires 48k machine
Price £10.39
ORICMON A complete machine code monitor Either 16k
or 48k machines
Price £15 90
One Products are pleased to announce the release of the
four-colour printer
The Printer uses standard 4 inch paper and is swrtchabte
between 40 and 80 characters per line
HOUSE OF DEATH game Requires 48k machine
Price £1039
MULTI GAMES PACK 2 Requres 48k machme
Pnce £7 30
ORIC MUNCH game Requires 48k machine
Price £8 35
The writing mechanism is a clever arrangement of tour
miniature bail-point pens (red. green, blue and black inks)
There are 15 programmable character sizes and four different
drawing angles
The pen plotting facility allows the drawing of con^tex
diagrams and pictures
The pnce includes an integral power supply and printer lead
You may place your order by phonaig our telesales number on ELY (0363) 2271/2/3/4 or by completing the postal form below
Payment may be made by cheque, postal order,
Bardaycard Visa or Access
A* cheques and postal orders should be made . ^_
payable to Tansoft Ltd
Fa credit card payment please quote Access, ~“
Bardaycard Visa No
All orders should be sent to Tansoft Ud. FVI ooloa brochure and software catalogue
3 Club Mews, By. Cambs C87 4NW is available on request
PCN JULY 28-AUGUST 3.19K3
PCNProgramCards
Definer Card 1 of 4
8321D1 4
A practical utility for BBC programmers that allows the creation and storage ol user-defined
characters
BBC Model B
BBC Basic
Application: Utility
Author: A Phillips
30 ONERFtOR GOTO 160
40 PROCinlt
SO PROCarrayc
60 REPEAT
70 HOPE 1
80 PROCgrtd
90 REPEAT
100 PROCinput
110 UATIL lnpS«"
120 HOPESIPROCn cm
130 UNTIL GX-83
140 MOPE7:*SAVE "CHARS” COO PO0
ISO GOTO180
160 IF ERR=17 RUN
170 MOPE7|REPORTiPR1NTERL
180 »F X 4, O
190 EN0
20O ....••«•••
210 OEFPROCinlt
220 »FX4,1
230 CX-224
240 P1H X1X<64),X2X<64),V1X<64>,Y2X<64>
2S0 DIM ValXIBI,TotX<8>,VVX<8)
260 G*—“ABCDEFGM"
270 BCord*-“AlA2A3A4A5A6A7A8BIB2B3B4B3"
280 SCor d *=SCord *♦"B6B 7B8CIC2C3C4CSC6"
290 SCord»-SCord*+“C7C8DID2D3D4D5D6D7"
3O0 SCordS=SCord4*"D8E1E2E3E4E3E6E7E8"
310 SCordS=SCord«*"FlF2F3F4F5F6F7FBGl"
320 SCordS-SCord**“G2G3G4G5G6G7G8HlH2"
330 SCord*=SCord**"H3H4H5H6H7H8”
340 REDS-CMR*I7*CHRS1
350 YELS«CHRS17*CHR*2
360 WH!«=CHR*17*CHR*3
370 ENDPROC
30-190 The mam program loop which
has full control over the
remainder of the program,
calling relevant procedures as
required, ft repeats until enter
S' for SAVE, ft then stores the
file, resets the editing keys and
ends
210-370 Set up all arrays and define the
control strings tor colour and
screen displays
PCNProgramCard s
Definer Card 2 of4
8321D2/4
390 DEFPROCarraya 390-500
400 FORIX"1TOGt READVXiVYX <IX)— YX* NEXT IX
410 DATA5.8,ll,14.18,21,24,27
420 XX-1041YX-804
430 FOR IX"1T064
440 X1X(IX)-XX
430 X2X(IX)"X1X(IX)♦92
460 Y1X<IX)"VX
470 Y2X(IX)—Y1X CIX)*92
480 IF IX MUD 8-0 I HEN XX-XX*lOOlYX-804 ELSE YX-YX-10O
490 NEXTIX
S00 ENDPROC
S10 ...
S20 DEFPROCgr i d 520-740
S30 VDU5
340 GCOL0.3
SSO GXX—lOOlGYX"1001GXXX-lOOlGYYX"100
560 FORIX-1T09
570 HOVEGXX,GYXlDRAW900,GYX
580 GYX—GYX* 100
590 MOVEGXXX.GYYXlDRAWGXXX.900
6O0 GXXX—GXXX+100
610 NEXT IX
620 GCOLO,1
630 MOVE 1148.5401 DRAW!248,540sDRAW1248.440> DRAM114B.440:DRAW1148.540
640 GXX—1401GYX—8S6
650 GCOLO,2
660 F0RIX-1T08 >
670 MOVE48.GYXIPR1NTUX
680 MOVEGXX.944tPRINT MID*(G4,IX,1)
690 GXX—GXX*1001GYX—GYX-100
700 NEXTIX
710 VDU4
720 FOR1X—1108
730 PRINTTAB <31,VYX <IX))“0"
740 .NEXTIX
750 PR I NT TAB <1,11 REDS I ” <Pr •»* SPACE BAR for ntxt character)” 750-780
760 PRINTTAB < 30,3)REDS<“Valua“
770 PRINT1AB<36, 13) YELSi"CHR“5 TAB<36,14ISTR«<CX)
780 ENDPROC
790 .11 11 • I 11111 11.. 11111111
Procedure to fill the arrays
defined in PROCinit
Draws the editing grid and
displays screen co-ordinates
Space bar allows scrolling
through the character set
Continued next week
CENTURY
YOUR SEARCH FOR FULLY TESTED
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
FOR THE BBC MICRO IS OVER
CENTURY
PCN JULY 28-AUGUST 3.1983
Li ill'll
PCN reviews the latest contenders for space on your bookshelf.
LEARNING
LOGO
ON THE APPLE 11
— Ml 11*1
“ItJW
‘Learning Logo on the Apple 11’by
An neMcDougaM, Tony Adams and
Pauline Adams published by
Prentice-Hall at £11 (paperback,
250 pages)
Seldom have I heard of. let
alone read, an instruction
manual/tutorial that is excel¬
lent. This one is by far and away
the most instructive hook I have
come across.
Even a non-novice can
appreciate the amount of effort
that has gone into producing a
really down-to-earth step-by¬
step book. Not only docs it start
from the premise that the
reader has yet to turn on the
Apple, but it is written in such a
way that anybody can learn
from it.
Each new concept or instruc¬
tion is lavishly illustrated with
example screen output, so you
can see what you should have
produced whilst working
through it. Amongst this multi¬
plicity of pictures and examples
are tutorial questions and exer¬
cises, just to make sure you
have a good understanding of
each chapter before progres¬
sing to the next.
Obviously, when using this
book you should have access to
an Apple and a version of Logo.
According to the authors, there
are currently only two versions
of Logo for the Apple, the
MJT version and Apple's own
AppleLogo. There are differ¬
ences between the two in opera¬
tion, but this book continually
shows its examples for both
versions, thereby increasing its
scope. I must admit I could go
on and on. Suffice to say, if you
want to learn Logo, go out and
buy this book. NC
‘Mastering the CoiourGenie’ by
Ian Sinclair, published by Gran ad a
at £5.95 (paperback 143 pages).
Mastering the Colour Genic is
aimed primarily at the begin¬
ner, and assumes no previous
knowledge of computing. The
book introduces and covers the
use of Basic commands that are
available on the Colour Genie.
The chapters progress from
using simple statements such as
the variable assignment (LET),
and the print statement. Small
progams are nicely placed with¬
in the text to illustrate the use of
the various Basic commands,
and the text also explains what
the program is doing, which
helps the reader to understand
how it works.
Chapter seven gives the read¬
er a nice and easy introduction
on producing graphics on the
Colour Genie. High resolution
graphics using pixels along with
explanation and examples of
how to use the plot and paint
command are explained in a
manner that shouldn't perplex.
Chapter nine is devoted to
using the sound facilities that
are available on the Genie. A
general introduction is given on
the nature of sound, along with
some basic musical termin¬
ology. Example programs arc
given, and the reader can type
these into the computer in order
to hear the various tones that
can be produced.
Overall this is an easy book to
read, and it's well laid out. The
information it contains should
provide the beginner with suffi-
cent knowledge to be able to go
on to greater things. TJ
At last! A joystick that works!
ff CAMBRIDGE COMPUTING
• Compatible with Spectrum, ZX81, Jupiter Ace
• 2 Independent Fire Buttons
#8 Directional Microswitched action
• Plugs into edge connector
#Interface complete with edge connector
•Atari joystick compatible
•Joystick with Interface £29.90
Enquiries from dealers
are welcome, ring
Chris Lloyd on
0223 522905
PCG
Please send me: r~
.Joystick, interface, and tape • £29.90.... [£_
SpectrumO ZX8lD Jupiter AceO
.interface and tape @ £24.00.
Spectrum!!] ZX8lD Jupiter AceD
.joysticks @ £7.00..
Spectrum0 ZX8lG Jupiter AceD
Tout including VAT.
[£ _,
_____ Please make cheques
I and P.O.s payable to:
-j Cambridge Computing,
1 1 Benson Street,
1§_| Cambridge CB4 3QJ.
PCN JULY 28-AUGUST 3,1983
CLUBNET
Clubnet keeps >ou in touch with enthusiasts throughout the
country. It is divided into two sections — microcomputing and
user groups.
We publish a list of these groups on alternate weeks. This week
user groups are listed alphabetically by machine and special
interest.
Each week we focus on an individual club or group with a
fly-on-the-wall report. This week we feature the British Osborne
Owners Group.
If your association has something special on the agenda or if
you’ve just started a new one. contact us at Clubnet. Personal
Computer Sews, VNU, 62 Oxford Street, London W'l A 2HS.
The user groups listing is based on that of the Association of
Computer Clubs.
with Adam
Dr. Kims Osborne speaking at the second British Osborne Users’ Annual Meeting.
Boogie
Close on one hundred people arrived at the
Cavendish Conference Centre in London’s
West End to listen to Dr. Adam Osborne,
who arrived to give a talk to members at the
second British Osborne Users' Annual
Meeting.
The group officially started in January
this year with its first meeting in April.
Organiser John Anglesea says they intend
to meet quarterly, and a newsletter
affectionately known as BOOGIE (British
Osborne Owners Group Information Ex¬
change) will come out four times a year.
‘The next meeting will be in the form of a
fair incorporating software demonstra¬
tions. It should take place at the National
Liberal Club in London in the Autumn,'
said Mr. Anglesea.
Future plans include presentations of
particular applications such as Wordstar.
Members will be encouraged to take their
Osbornes along to meetings and work¬
shops which Mr. Anglesea hopes will be set
up throughout the UK.
The 300 members includes academics,
doctors and journalists. Cecil Machin,
chairman of management consultancy
Machin Associates in Rustington, Sussex,
said: ‘I joined for the tips and advice — it's
good to be able to talk to people who have
the same kind of problems.'
An Osborne is even in use at the Society
for the Protection of Ancient Buildings.
One of their employees finds the Osborne
very useful for organising tours, numbers
for the coach, numbers for lunches, word
nrocessins. etc.
Dr. Osborne, made it clear he doesn't
exactly bust a gut to keep his company
running along smoothly. ‘I'm more likely
to die of sunstroke than a heart attack.' he
joked, after explaining his simple business
philosophy — ‘if people have heard of a
product, they’ll buy it.'
Dr. Osborne explained how he wrote a
book called ‘An Introduction to Micro¬
computers’ in December 1975, only to find
that no-one would publish it — so he
published it himself and sold the full print
run of 10,000copies in three months.
The Osborne machine itself was
launched at the West Coast Computer Fair
in March 1981.
The first machine was shipped in July
that year, after what Dr. Osborne de¬
scribed as ‘a tremendous response from
the computer press'.
USER GROUPS
Coventry Acorn Atom User Group Peter
Frost. 18 Frankwell Dnve, Coventry, 0203
613156
Kent Medway Acom User Group Meets it
St John Ftsher School on last Monday of
month at 7pm Sessions at 9pm Thursday
at the Fox and Hound. Chatham Clem
Rutler. c o St John's Fisher School.
Ordance Street. Chatham. Kent. 0634
42811 (day). 0634 373459 (evenings)
Manchester Acom User Group Meets at
AMC. Crescent Road. Crupsall. Manchester
8 on Tuesday except school holidays John
Ashurst. 192 Vendure Close. Farlsworth.
Manchester. 061-681 4962
British Apple Systems User Group. P0 Box
174. Wattord WD2 6NF
Bristol Apple Users and Dabblers Meets at
10 Waring House. Redckffe HU. Bristol
BS1 6TB. once a month EwaDaDkowski.
c o Datalrnk. 10 Waring House. Redcirtf*
HIM. Bristol BS1 6TB. 0272 213427
Buckinghamshire Apple User Group Steve
Prohlt. The Granary. Hill Farm Road.
Marlow Bottom. Buckinghamshire. 062 84
73074
Croydon Apple User Group Meets at Sidda
House. 350 Lower Addrscombe Road.
Croydon, on second Monday of month
Paul Vernon. 60 Flawkhurst Way. West
Wickham Kent. 01-777 5478
London Apple Music Synthesis Group Dr
Davis Ellis. 22 Lennox Gardens. London
SW1
Milton Keynes Microcomputer User Group
Meets every Tuesday, 7 30pm Brian Pam,
’ Sir Frank Markham School. Woughton
Centre. Chaftron Way. Milton Keynes
Atart
Birmingham User Group Meets at the
Malaga Gril. Matador Public House. Bui
Ring shopping centre. Birmingham, on
second and fourth Thursday every month at
7 30pm Mike Aston. 42 Short Street.
Wednesbury West Midlands
Carshalton Atari User Club PaulOeegan.
01-642 5232
Hell Atan Users Local Group Harvey Kong
Til. 546 Holdemess Road. Hull HU9 3ES
Hull 7911094
Loedon Silica Atan 400BOO User Club
Richard Hawes. 01-3011111
Nerwlch Atari User Group Ken Ward.
Norwich 661149
Preston Atari Computer Enthusiasts Meets
at KSC Qub. Memon House Beach Grove.
Ashton, Preston, on third Thursday of
month at 7 30pm Roger Taylor, 0253
738192
Atom
Liverpool BBC and Atom User Group
Meets at Old Swan Technical College.
Room C33 on first Wednesday of month at
7 30pm and at Birkenhead Technical
College on Herd Thursday of month at
7 30pm Nick Kelly. 061-525 2934
(evenings)
BBC
Laserbvg is an international user group for
the BBC micro Paul Barbour lOOawiey
Ride. Coinbrook, Slough. Berks. 02812
30614
Beekug. Sheridan Williams or David
Graham at PO Box 50. St Albans.
Hertfordshire AL1 2AR
Bournemouth BBC User Group Meets at
Lansdowne Computer Centre. 5
Hoidenhurst Road. Bournemouth on first
and fourth Wednesday of month al
7 30pm Norman Carey , 0202 749612
Brent Barnet User Group Meets on last
Sunday of month Joseph Fox. 4 Harman
Close London NW2 2EA
North London BBC Micro Users Group
Meets at The Pnnce of Wales. 37 Fortune
Green Road, on Tuesdays at 7pm Dr Leo
McLaughlin. Westfield College. University
of London. Kidderpore Avenue. London
NW3 7ST. 01-4350109
Preston ores BBC Micro User Group
Meets at Boatmans Arms, Marsh Lane.
Preston, on last Thursday of month
Duncan Coulter, 8 Briar Grove. Ingol.
Preston. Lancashire. 0772 725793
Witham (NAMEBUG) BBC Micro User
Group Meets at comprehensive school.
Witham on second Thursday each month at
7 30pm Dave Watts 0245 356127 after
7pm
Comal
London Comal User Group Meets at
Polytechnic of North London. Holloway,
second Wednesday of month, term time
John Collins. 7574111
Commodore ICPUG
Barnsley. Bob Wool. 13 Ward Green.
Barnsley. South Yorkshire. 0226 85084
Blackpool. Meets at Arnold School
Blackpool, on third Thursday of month
Oavtd Jarrell, 197 Victoria Road. Thornton
Cleveleys. Blackpool FY53ST
Canterbury SE. Meets at The Physics Lab.
Canterbury University, on first Tuesday and
Wednesday of month R Moseley.
Rosemount. Romney Hill, Maidstone. 0622
37643
Carrfckfergus David Bolion. 19
Camckbum Road. Carnckfergus. Antnm
70
PCN JULY 28-AUGUST 3.1983
CLUBNET
—
BT38 7ND 09603 63788
Cheltenham Meets at the Cheltenham
Ladies College on lest Thursday ol month at
7 30pm Alison Schoheld. 78 Hesters Way
Road. Cheltenham. Gloucester. 0242
580789
Clwyd John Poole. 6 Rxlgway Close.
Connah's Quay. Clwyd CHS 4LZ
Corty Peter Ashby. 215 Wmcohn Way.
Corby. Northamptonshire. 05363 4442
Coventry Meets at Stoke Park School and
County College at 7pm on lourth
Wednesday ol month except July. August.
December Will Light, 22 tvybridge Road.
Stvyechale. Coventry, Warwickshire
Derby Meets at Derby Professional Colour
every other Tuesday at 7pm Robert Watts.
03322 72569
Durham. North-fast Pet and ICPUG Meets
at Lawson School. Burnley at 7pm second
and third Mondays Jim Cocailis. 20
Worcester Road, Newton Hall Estate.
Durham
Dyted. Simon Kmveton, 097 086 303
Halnault. Meets at Grange Remedial
Centre. Woodman Path. Hamault Carol
Taylor. 101 Courtlands Avenue. Cranbrook.
Glasgow Dr Jim MacBrayne. 27 Daidmyre
Crescent. Newton Mearns Glasgow. 041-
639 5696
Gloucester end Bristol Area. Meets at 23
Sheppard Lean. Wotton-under-Edge.
Gloucester, on last Fnday ot month
Hampshire Meets at 70 Reading Road,
Famborough, on third Wednesday ol
month Ron Geere. 109 York Road,
Famborough, Hants. 0252 542921
Hertfordshire North. Meets at Provident
Mutual Assurance. Purwell Lane. Hrtchm.
on last Wednesday of month B Grainger.
73 Mmehead Way. Stevenage, Herts SGI
2HS. 0438 727925
Kilmarnock Meets at Symington Pnmary
School on first and third Thursday of month
at 7pm John Smith. 19 Brewlands Road.
Symington, Kilmarnock KA15RW, 0563
11 ll'l.'lll
COMPUTER
REACHES THE CUSTOMERS
OTHER MICRO MAGAZINES
CANNOT REACH
CALL: NIC JONES
AND HIS TEAM
ON:
01-323 3211
830407
Liverpool. Meets at The Merchant Taylor
School for Boys, Crosby, on second
Thursday ot month at 7pm Tony Bond. 27
Ince Road. Liverpool L234UE. 051-924
1505
London. Alan Birks. 135 Queen Alexandra
Mansions. Judd Street, London WC1.
01-430 8025
London North. Barry Miles Department ol
Business Studies, North London
Polytechnic. Holloway Road. London N7.
01 -607 2789
Norfolk. Peter Pens. Bramley Hale
Wretton. King s Lynn. Norfolk PE33 90S.
0366 500692
Northumberland Graham Saunders. 22
Front Street. Guide Poet. Northumberland
Slough Meets at Slough College on second
Thursday of month at 7 30pm Brian
Jones. 53 Beechwood Avenue. Woodley.
Reading RG5 3DF. 0734 661494
South-East. Regional Group Meets at
Charles Darwin School. Jail Lane. Biggin
Hid. Kent, on third and fourth Thursday of
month at 7 30pm Jack Cohen. 30
Brancaster Road, Newbury Park. Ilford.
Essex. 01-597 1229
South Midlands Meets at 12 York Street
Stourport-on-Sevem on last Thursday of
month M J Memman at above address
.Staffordshire. 57 Clough Hall Road.
Kid sg rove. Stoke-on-Trent
Teddtogten G Squibb 106 Teddmgton
Park Road. Teddmgton. Middlesex. 01-977
2346
Watford. Meets on second Monday of
month Stephen Rabagbah. c/o Institute of
Grocery 01st Grange Lane. Letchmore
Heath. Watford. Herts, 01-779 7141
Commodore Pet
Blackpool West Lancashire Pet Users
Club Meets it Arnold School. Blackpool on
the third Thursday ol month DJowett. 197
Victoria Road. East Thornton. Blackpool
FY535T
Southern Users of Pets Association
Howard Pilgrim. 42 Compton Road.
Brighton BN15AN
Pat User Group Crawley. Richard Dyer. 33
Parham Road. Ilfield, Crawley
Pet Users Education Group. Dr Chns
Mb DpM«IPI|M| Ohm
Elizabeth College. Camden Hill Road.
London W8 7 AH
UK Pet Users Club. 360 Euston Road.
London NW1 3BL
Pat Utars Group Meets at North London
Poly Barry Miles. 01-607 2789
Pet User Club. Margaret Gullriord. 618
Leigh Road. Slough Industrial Estate 0753
Commodore Vic
Burnley John Ingham. 72 Ardwick Street,
Burnley. Lancashire
London Vic Users Group Meets on
alternate Tuesdays at 6 30pm at
Polytechnic ot North London. Community
Centre Robin Brad beer
Norfolk J Blair. 7 Beach Road. Cromor.
Norfolk. 0263 512849
Compucolour
Caversham. Compucolour Users Group
UK Meets al Community Centre,
Caversham Park Village twice a year Peter
Hlner. 11 Pennycroft. Harpenden,
Hertfordshire. 05827 64872
CPU*
Irish CP M Users Group Meets monthly m
Dublin area Doug Notley. Gardner House.
Baltsbridge Dublin 4. Dublin 686411
UK CPM Users Group Lesley Sp«er. 11
Sun Street. London EC2M 2QO. 01-247
COSMAC
COSMAC Users Group. James
Cunningham. 7 Harrowden Court.
Digital Equipment
Digital Equipment Users Society. The
Secretary. PO Box S3. Reading. Berkshire.
0734 387725
Brixham Dragon Osmers Club. Meets at
Computer Systems (Torbay). Pump Street.
Bnxham, every Saturday at 2 30pm Ian
CTupperfteld. 22 Brookdaie Court. Bnxham.
Devon. Bnxham 59224
Education
Birmingham Educabon ZX8081 User
Group Eric Deeson. Highgate School.
Balsail Heath Road. Highgate. Birmingham
B1290S
Birmingham MUSE National body tor
co-ordinating activity in schools, colleges
Lorraine Boyce. MUSE Information Office.
Westmil College. Weoley Park Road.
Birmingham. 021-471 3723
Dublia. Computer Education Society of
Ireland Darrmuid McCarthy. 7 St Kevins
Park. Kilmacud. Blackrock Co Dubhn
Middlesex. Educational Users Group
Offshoot ot Nabonal TRS-80 Users Group
Dave Fletcher. Head Teacher. Beaconsfietd
First and Middle School. Beaconsheld
Road. Southall. Middlesex
Worcestershire Mini and Microcomputer
Users m Education Nabonal organisation
R Tngger. 48 Chadoota Way. Catshili.
Bromsgrove. Worcestershire B61 OJT
Forth Users Group Daw) Husband. 2
Cohesion Road. Branksome, Poole. Dorset
BH12 1NW. 0202 764724
Forth Interest Group UK. Meets at Room
408. South Bank Polytechnic on the first
Thursday ol month K Goldie-Morhson . 15
St Albans Mansion. Kensington Court
Place. London W8 5QH. 01-937 3231
71
PCN JULY 28-AUGUST 3.
CLUBNET
Fonim
Forum 80 Users Group. Frederick Broom.
421 End.ke Lane. Hull HU6SAG
FX-500P
FX 500 P Uteri Association Mas Francis.
38 Grymsdyk*. Great Missenden.
Buckinghamshire HP16 OLP
Genealogists
Society at Genealogists Computer Interest
Group Anthony Camp. 01-373 7054
Genie
Colour Genie User Group Details ot
meetings memtarshi p from Pat Doohan.
secretary, Nottingham (0602) 278791
Intel MDS
UK Intel MOS Users Group. Lewis Hard,
c/o S P A C E . The Old Coach House
Court Row. Upton-on-Severn. Worcester
WRBONS
Ithaca Audio SI00
Ithaca Audio SIM Users Group. Dave
Weaver. 41 Dore Avenue. North
Hykenham . Lincoln LN68LN
Jupiter Ace
Jupiter Act Users Group. John Noyce,
Rem soft 18 George Street. Brighton BN2
1RH
Mattel
Mattel Intellrvision TV Game Group
Warnngton 62215 alter 4pm
Medical
Durham Pnmary Health Care Group Dr
Alastair Malcolm British Computer
Society. Cheveley Park Medical Centre.
Belmont. Ourham 0385 64282
London. Medical Micro Users Group
Medicom. 1 -2 Hanover Street. London W1
Middlesex TRS-80 Medical and
Laboratory Users Dr Robinson. The
Residency. Northunck Park Hospital.
Harrow. Middlesex
Nascom
Berkshire. Nascom Thames Valley User
Group Meets at Frogmore Hotel Windsor,
on Thursday fortnightly 8pm Mike
Rothery, 37 Eaton Wick Road. Eton Wick.
Windsor Berkshire. Windsor 56106
Birmingham Nascom User Group Meets
at Davenports Social Club. Granville Street.
Birmingham on the last Thursday ot month.
8pm Martin Sidebotham. 021-744 3093
International Nascom Microcomputer
Club 80 Oakhetd Corner. Sycamore Road.
Amersham, Buckinghamshire HP6 5EQ
Merseyside Nascom User Group Meets at
Mona Hotel. St James Street. Liverpool on
the first Wednesday of month. 7 30pm Mr
TSeade 051-526 5256
Newbrain
Wakefield independent Newbrain User
Group Anthony Hodge. 15 St John's
Court. Wakefield WF1 2RY
Ohio 0 Scientific User Group Tom Graves.
19a West End. Street, Somerset. 0458
45359
Ortc
Orlc Owners Group Paul Kaufman 3 Club
Mews. Ely. Cambridgeshire
Osborne
British Osborne Owners Group J
Anglesea. Flat 19. Rowan House. Mitton
Road. Handsworth Birmingham B20 2JR
OSI
OSI UK Usar Group. Richard Elen. 12
Benneriey Road. London SW11 SOS
Pascal
Pascal User Group. Nick Hughes. PO Box
52. Pinner. Middlesex HAS 3FE
POP
Buckinghamshire POPS User Group Nigel
Dunn. 21 Campion Road. Widmer End.
High Wycombe. Buckinghamshire. 0494
714483
Hertterdshire PDP11 User Group Pete
Harris. 119 Carpenter Way. Potters Bar.
Hertfordshire EN6 SOB. 0707 52091
Pilot
UK Pllet User Group Alec Wood. Wtrrai
Grammar School tor Boys. Cross Lane.
Betxngton Wirral. Merseyside LG3 3AQ
Preslel
ACC National Preslel Committee
Administrates Club Spot 800 (hobbyists on
Preslel) Rupert Steele. St John's College.
Oxford 0X13JP
Research Machines
Birmingham Research Machines 380Z
Peter Smith, Birmingham Educational
Computing Centre. Camp Hill Teachers
Centre. Stratford Road. Birmingham B11
1AR
Leamington Spa. West Midland RML User
Group Spencer Instone, c/o 59 Avenue
Road. Leamington Spa
Newcastle NERML 380Z User Group
Meets monthly at Micro-Electronics
Education Centre ot the Polytechnic Coach
Lane Campus Mr Hatfield or Mr Read.
Computer Unit. Northumberland Building
Newcastle Polyteehmc. 0632 326002
Oxford. Research Machines National User
Group RML Mill Street. Osney. Oxford
0X2 OBW 0865 249866
Oxford. Research Machines Ltd National
User Group M 0 Fisher PO Box 75. Oxford
0X41EY
Sharp MZ80
Aberdeen. International Sharp Users
Group Graham Knight, t o Knights
Computers. 108 Rossemount Place,
Aberdeen 0224 630526
Essex. Sharp MZ80K User Group Joe
Street. 16 Elmhurst Drive. Hornchurch,
Essex RM11 1 PC.
Leeds. Sharp PCI 211 Users Dub
Jonathan Dakeyne. 281 Lldgett Lane.
Leeds LSI 7 3AO
Somerset. Sharp MZ80 Users Club Tim
Powell. Computer Centre. Yeovil College.
Yeovil. Somerset BA214AE
Sinclair
Brighton ZX Users Group J Ireiand-Hili
Jnr. 145 Godwin Road. Hove. Brighton
Aylesbury Sinclair ZX Computer Club Ken
Knight 0296 5181
Colchester Sinclair User Group Meets
fortnightly Richard Lawn. 102 Pettygate
Road. Colchester Essex
Cardifl. ZX Club Meets on last Sunday of
month. 2pm Mike Hayes. 54 Oakley Place.
Remember
Let us know about your micro club or user group
so we can be sure the information printed here is
up to date. Drop a card to YYendie Pearson.
Listings Kditor, at Personal Computer Sews, 62
Oxford Street, London VV1A 2H(>, or give her a
call on 01-636 6890, _
Grangetown. Cardiff. 0222 371732
Edinburgh ZX Meets at Claremont Hotel.
Claremont Crescent. Edinburgh, on second
and fourth Wednesdays every month.
7 30pm John Pafmer 56 MeadowheW
Drive. Edinburgh. 031-661 3183
Glasgow. ZX80 81 User Group Ian Watt.
10 Greenwood Road. Clarkston. Glasgow.
041-638 1241
Liverpool ZX Computer Club Meets at ZX
Computer Centre. 17 Sweeting Street.
Liverpool, on Wednesday. 6 30pm Keith
Archer. 051-2604950
Lontfen National ZX User Club Tim
Hartneb. Interface. 44-48 Earls Court.
LondonW8
London Sinclair User Group Meets at
Polytechnic ot North London. Room 2-5
Tower Block Monday 6 30pm living
Brand, Polytechnic of North London,
Holloway Road. London
ZX Spectrum Club D Beattie 63 Kingsley
Crescent. Sawtey. Long Eaton. Nottingham
NG10 30A
Staffordshire ZX80 National Software
Association 15 Woodlands Road.
Womboume Staffordshire WV5 OJZ
Suffolk ZX Amateur Radio User Group
Paul Newsman 3 Red House Lane.
Leiston. Suffolk. SAE essential No
telephone inquiries
Sumy. Guildford ZX8081 Users Group
Meets Fridays A Bond. 54 Famham Road.
Guildford. Surrey GU2 5PE 0483 62035
Sumy. ZXBO'81 User Club David Bigden,
PO Box 159. Kingston-upon-Thames
Surrey KT2 5UO
West Sussex Hassocks ZX Micro User
Club Paul King. 25 Fir Tree Way.
Hassocks. West Sussex.
Siriui
Sirius User Group Ray 0 Arcy. Sinus User
Club. The Microsystems Centre, Enterprise
House. 7-71 Gordon Street. Luton, 0582
412215
68 XX
6IXX Special Intarest Group Tim Turner
63 Millais Road. London El 1 4HB. 01-556
3681
Software
Lenduu. Software Group Meets at
Polytechnic of North London. Room 2-3
Tower block Thursday 6pm Mike Duck at
Polytechnic of North London. Holloway.
London N7
Oxford. Program ot the Month Club Mr
Durrani. 55 St Thomas Strtet. Oxford 0X1
1JG. 0855 250333
Sorcerer
Liverpool European Sorcerer Club
Monthly meetings Colin Marie. 32
Watchyard Avenue. Formby. near Liverpool
L373JU 07048 72137
Sumy. Exidy Sorcerer User Group Andy
Marshall 44 Arthurs Bridge Road. Woking.
Surrey GU21 4NT
Spreadsheet
International Electronic Spreadsheet
Users Group. UK Alpha House, 7th Floor.
Rowtandsway. Manchester M22 5RG
IvMT^angenne Users Group Bob Green.
1 Marlborough Drive. Won*. Avon. 0934
21315
Bristol. Tangerine Homebrew A Coales 35
Mogg Street. St Werburghs. Bristol BS2
9UB.
Texas Instruments
Leeds. TI994A User Group Meets at 30
Gipton Wood Road. Leeds 8. Mondays
7pm I Youlden. 0532 401408
Manchester Ti User Group T Gnmshaw.
21 Ailingham Street. Longsight.
Manchester
Manchester TI9900 User Group Chns
Cadogan. Department ot Computer
Soence. University ot Manchester Ml 3
9PL
Triton
Triton User Group. Nigel Stride Transam
Ltd. 12 Chapel Street. London NW1.
01-4028137
TRS-80
Birmingham. National TRS-80 User Group
Meets at Adam & Eve Pub. 1st Floor
Bradford Street. Birmingham on last Fnday
of month Michael Gibbons. 1 New Street.
Castle Bromwich. Birmingham B38 9AP.
021-747 2260
Chelmsford TRS-80 User Group Michael
Dean, 22 Roughtons. Gaileywood.
Chelmsford. Essex
Durham North East TRS-80 User Group
Meets at Information Technology Centre.
Gateshead on the third Wednesday ot
month. 7pm J Dunn. 8 Ettrich Terrace.
North Gateshead. County Durham
Edinburgh Scottish TRS-80 and Genie
User Group Meets at Mansion House
Hotw. Milton Road, second Thursdays of
month Dick Mackie. 3 War render Park
Crescent. Edinburgh EH910X. 031-229
6032
Isle ot Wight TRS-80 User Club Meets at
London Hotel. Ryde on last Friday of
month 7 30pm Sean Coulson, 0903
614589
Kant. TRS-80 User Group Alan Reid. 22
Woodeys Road. Ramham. Kent. 0634
367012
Bolten Northwest TRS-80 User Group
Meets at Barton Aero Club. Barton
Aerodrome. Irtam. near Manchester on last
Wednesday ot month. 8pm Subgroup
meets at Crown Hotel Btackfnars Street
on first and third Monday of month Melvin
Franklin. 40Cowlees. Westhoughton.
Bolton. Lancashire
Lhrerpoel. UK DOSPLUS User Group Peter
Toothil. 101 Swanside Road. Liverpool
L14 7NL 051-220 9733
Liverpool. Merseyside TRS -BOVUeo
Gome User Group Meets second Thursday
ot month 7 15pm Peter ToothiN. 101
Swanside Road. Liverpool L14 7NL 051-
220 9733
London. SW. TRS-80 User Group Ron
Event! on 01-394 2123
Merseyside. TRS-80 User Group N
Rusiiton. 123 Roughwood Drive.
North wood Kirby. Merseyside
Milton Keynes. National TRS-80 and Gene
User Group Brian Pam. 24 Oxford Street.
Stony Stratford. Milton Keynes
London. TRS-80 Gome Group Meets at
Central Common Room. The Residency
North wick Park Hospital on First Sunday ot
month Dr Nick Robinson. Central Room.
The Residency. Northwich Park Hospital
Northerns. TRS-80 User Group Meets at
Welwyn Park Community Centre on
alternate Thursdays at 7pm Ned Gnttlths.
0858 65718
Nottingham East Midlands TRS-80 User
Group Mike Costello. 15 Langbank
Avenue. Rise Park. Nottingham NG5 5BU.
0602 751753
Colour Genie
National Colour Genie User Group. Marc
Leduc. 46 Highbury Avenue.
Nottinghamshire NG6 9DB
UCSD
Hants. UCSO System Users Society John
Ash. Dicoli Data Systems Ltd. Bond Close.
Kingsland Estate Basingstoke. Hants RG2
006
Oxfard. UCSO Pascal UK Users Group
Malcolm Harper, Oxford University
Computing Laboratory Programming
Research Group. 45 Banbury Road. Oxford
0X2 6ft
CUA
CUA User Group Adrian Waters. 9 Moss
Lane. Romford. Essex
6502
Bedfordshire 6502 User Group Walter
Wallenbom. 21 Argyll Avenue. Luton.
Bedfordshire LU31EG. 0582 26927
Hants. 6502 User Group (Southern
Region) Steve Cote. 70 Sydney Road.
Gosport. Hants
PCN JULY 28-AUUUST 3.1983
DATABASICS
This six-page guide lists as many of the micros on the market for unde'
£12,000 as possible. In Databasics you'll find all the specifications for the
machines, add-ons and software necessary to make your buying decisions
PCN keeps you up to date in three-week cycles, starting with hardware,
then peripherals and finally software
PRICE Specifications listed for each machine indicate what you get for the
basic price quoted, which includes VAT
PROCESSOR TYPE a microprocessor is the heart of the computer TheZBO
and 6502 are popular 8-bit chips The 8088 and 68000 are common 16-bit
chips. If a machine has an 8-bit and a 16-bit processor we have listed the
16-bit only. Cust means custom-built
SPEED IN MHz Speed of the clock used to drive the microprocessor
measured in MegaHertz (million cycles per second).
STANDARD RAM Amount of mam memory used on the system. The
capacity is expressed in kilobytes
MAX RAM normally at extra coat Amount of memory to which the system
can be expanded
MAX CHARACTERS columns x lines The number of characters that can
be displayed across the screen and the number of lines down
METHOD (at extra cost) This indicates the way the computer displays
information M on its own means that a monitor is included in the basic price
Tv indicates that you can plug the computer into a television set (M-i-)
indicates that the monitor costs extra LCD Liquid crystal display
COLOUR CAPABILITY tells you whether the machine can give colour at the
basic price quoted
MAX DOT RESOLUTION gives the maximum number of points across the
screen by the number of points down the screen that are available for
graphics
KEYBOARD This tells you the type of keyboard that comes with the
machine W - word processing. C - calculator andT * touch-sensitive
No OF FUNCTION KEYS refers to the number of keys that can be used for
different jobs by different programs
NUMERIC PAD indicates whether the machine has a separate catculator-
styte group of number keys to enter data quickly
INTERFACES BUILT-IN shows the number of standard connections built
into th e ma chine
CASSETTE FACILITY gives a yes or no as to whether or not the machine
can use a cassette to store data
CAPACITY PER DISK AND DISK SIZE tells you how many disk dnvescome
with the machine, and the amount of data in kilobytes (K) or megabytes (Mb)
that can be stored on each drive There are two sizes for disks. 5 V«" or 8", and
they can be floppy (F) or hard (H)
OPERATING SYSTEM gives the program that looks after the general
running of a computer
LANGUAGES INC is a column which lists the programming languages that
come with the machine at the basic price
OTHER LANGUAGES AVAILABLE indicates whether or not Other
programming languages are available for the machine
DISTRIBUTOR To find which company distributes the machine refer to the
distributor table from the code listed in this column. The table is at the end of
the listings, and gives the distributor s name and telephone number.
All details given are the latest available We ask distributors to let us know as
soon as machine specifications change so Databasics can be kept nght up to
date This guide has been meticulously researched and the information
collected from individual distnbutors listed
PRICE GUIDE
Sinclair ZX81
Casio PB100
TRS-80PC4
Sharp PC1251
Casio FX702P
Juprter Ace
Sinclair Spectrum
Corn* 35
Tandy TRS-80 Pocket 2
Onci
Atari 400
TI-99 4A
Colour Game
Commodore VIC 20
Sharp PC 1500
SordMS
Dragon 32
Camputers Lynx
T anchi TRS-80 Colour
New Bram A
Multitech MPSII
BBC Micro Model A
Genie II
Alan 80C
BBC Micro Model B
C90
£99
£120
£130
£139 95
£150
£150
£150
£168
£170
£170
£190
£200
£225
£240
£269
£269
£299
£299
£300
£327
£330
£345
£389
£399
£431
£454
£472
_ £549
Sharp MZ80A £549
Commodore 4016 £632
Research Machine 4802 £650
- £884
£776
£799
£883
£900
£972
Commodore 500
HP75C
Sharp M280B
Apple lie
Commodore 8032
Commodore 710
ToehOaT-100
SordM23
Kayproli
Transtec BC2
Kenilworth 83G
£1 900
£1.932
£1.949
£1.9 ■
>nQX10
Fu|itsu FM8
Sanyo MBC 1000
Positron 900 _
Tandy TRS-80 Model III £1.299
Commodore8096 £1.374
Pasca640 £1437
NECPC8000 £1454
MneBuein* *
TeievideoTS
HP86A
Osborne I
Signet 10025
API Signet
Zenith 289-81
Basis 106 £1.683
CommodoreSpr Pet9000£i 719
Gemini Galaxy 2 £1.719
British Micro M.n. 803 £ 1.720
Microsokition Brit Genius £1.840
Globe 101 £1.850
Genie III £1.897
£1 259
£1.610
.. »T-20
TMK332
Bonsai SM 3000
CAL PC
Norlh Star Horizon
Sanyo MBC 1250
CasuM>mC2
Sharp I
HP 85
I System I
PPC3201
HP Series 100.120
£2.012
£2.019
£2.064
£1 953
£1.983
£1.995
_ £1.986
Tandy TRS-80 Model II £1999
Kenilworth 83N -
Called Micro
LSIM3
Haywood9000Composite £2 064
Hawk Model 110 £2.070
Positron9000 £2.134
Superbrain JR £2150
Future Computers FX-20 £2 156
Coman Communicator £2.180
Adler AlphatronicP2 £2 197
Country Com lersCOOOO £2.242
Kemitron K2000E £2.242
Rair Black Box320S -
Sanyo MBC 2000
TIProl Computer
IBM PC
Xerox 820 Model II
Haywood3000
LSM4
10 Tech Iona
HP87XM
Quantum 2000
Canon AS 100
CPlIOp
Enterprise 1000
Fact!6520
Olympia Boss Model A
£2.242
£2.242
£2242
£2.242
£2 294
£2.294
£2 294
£2.294
£2.300
£2.300
£2 300
£2.360
Adler Alphalrorwc P3
Eagle II
AlmarcSOI
DEC Rainbow 100
ICL PC Model 10
MillbankSXIO
Olivetti M20D
Sirius l
Victor9000
North Star Advantage
Applelll
Sanyo MBC 4050
Bonsai SM 4000
LogcaVTSViiess*
Decision-1 Computer Oi 1
£2.362
£2.369
£2 386
£2 392
£2.415
£2 439
£2.472
£2.500
£2.524
£2 539
£2.571
£2.587
£2 633
£2.639
£2 600
£2.645
£2 645
£2.645
£2.657
£2 696
£2,702
£2.708
£2.714
£2.754
£2,754
£2.754
£2.754
£2.754
£2.766
£2.780
£2.817
£2 842
£2.863
£2,869
DMSFox
Eagle III
Zenith Z89-81
Monroe EC 8800
Philips P3500
TanbergECIO
Cromemco System 1
DECPC325
Direct 1000
Equator
Oerso Table-Tops 925
ITT3030
Monroe OC 8810
£2.875
£2 950
£2.978
£2 990
£3 000
£3 000
£3 003
£3.025
£3 080
£3 093
£3 099
£3.105
£3.105
£3.162
HP Series 200 Moden 6A £3211 Micro Five
Crier Senes 1
Samurai
Torch
SordM223
KontronRSlBC
Columbia PC 1600-1
D«g«o Prince
OEM Orion
£3.214
£3.214
£3.214
£3.277
£3.306
£3.392
£3 392
£3 392
£3.400
£3.450
£3.450
£3.560
£3.576
Bar cellos AMT 100
Kalamazoo 105C
Cromemco System 2
Digital Microsystems 3
Decision-1 Computer 012 £3.674
TeievideoTS 1602-C £3.714
AddsMultivision £3.795
Clenio Pronto £3.795
Panasonic JD800M £3 795
Kemitron K3000 £3.795
DEC PC 350 £3.850
Vector 4 £3,852
Sage II £4.019
Eagle iv £4 190
C-1010 £4.197
Tandy TRS-80 Model 16 £4 199
HytechH4500 £4310
BMC OK 11F800. Model20£4 360
ADS 42 £4.500
TeievtdeoTS-BQZH £4 533
Country Com iers Cl000 £4.542
Corvus Concept £4.887
ICL PC Model 3i £4 939
Cromemco System 3 £5.170
Micro Five 1000 £5.175
Fortune 32 16 System 2 £5.204
Zeus4 £5.400
Hawk Model 2110 £5.405
Molecular M200 £5.462
ANOS80015 £5.663
Durango F85 £5.744
Triton 4 £5.744
Mann Chip M9900 £5.750
SWTech Products SO 9 £5.750
BASF 7100 £5.805
Compustar £5.837
SordM243 £5.842
Archives IV £5.905
Sage IV £5.962
ICL PC Model 32 £6 037
Rair Business Computer £6.037
Digital Microsystems 4 £6,210
Superstar £6.296
Racal6000 £6.327
Eagle 1600
Tl System 200-250
Compucorp675
Weal 150
Pascal Mod
Diablo3000
Onyx 5001V
®l;
£6.497
£6.695
£6 780
£6 846
£6 969
£7.003
£7,250
£7.607
£8,205
£9,550
£9 631
£9 775
£10.350
£10.480
£11.442
ABBREVIATIONS
Ap APL
As Assembly
Ba Basic
CoCobol
Cm Comal
Ft: Forth
Fn: Fortran
Pa Pascal
§
|
_2
■
| mtelacn bu-nm j
f
1
l
2|
Si
Si
!
B
|
7]
f
1
L
1
B
I
\}\
,
i
2
ftl
li
HARDWARE
Acorn Atom
£150
6502
•
2K
40K
32x16
Tv(M + )
•
256x192
w
i
•
Cassette
BaAs
•
A1
Hobbyist micro
Adds Multrvision
£3.795
8085A
5
64K
256K
80x25
M
640 x 240
w
28
i
7
1x350K5'/4F
CP M2 2. Muon
Ba
A2
Multi user system
Adler Alphatromc P2
£2.197
0005A
3
48K
64K
80x24
M
w
6
•
2
j]
7
2x 160K5' <F
CP M
Ba
T1
Good software choice
Adler Alphatromc P2U
£2.524
8085A
3
64K
80x24
M
W
6
•
2
7
3
2x320K5’/«F
CP M
Ba
T1
£327 buys extra storage
Adler Alphatromc P3
£2,696
8065A
3
64K
80x24
M
w
6
•
.2
.
1
3
2x 790K5’/4F
CP M
T1
16 bit option-promised
ADS 42
£4.500
0085A
4
32K
40x8
M
40«8
wl
•
3
3
T
1x02K5’4F
Holland Automation
Ba
A3
Intelligent cash register
£3.400
8080
4
256K
80x25
M
640 x 250
w
10
•
1
1
7]
2x320K5’/4F
MS-DOS
BaAs
A9
16-bit portable micro
Almarc 801
£2.700
Z80
4
64K
512K
80x25
(Mi)
•
w 1
J^
7
2« BOOKS’ *F
CP M
A4
8-txt range goes to 20Mb
Almarc 1601
£3.445
8006
8
128K
1Mb
80x25
(M + )
•
w 1
2
ii
2x800K5V 4 F
CPM86
A4
Pseudo 16-bits go to 20Mb
Aquarius
C90
Z80A
4
4K
52K
40x24
TV
•
320x192
c
i
•
Cassette
Ba
M7
Competition lor Uncle Sir Clive
Altos 00015
£5.663
ZOO
4
192K
208K
80x24
M
w
8
7
.
1x450K5V4F
MPM
LI
Multi user business machine
Alios 856-10
£9.631
8086
10
512K
1Mb
80x24
M
w 1
16
7
2x500K5’/4F
Xenix
Xenix
LI
The 16-bit version
APL Signet
£1,610
Z80A
4
64K
80x25
Tv(M*)*
•
2^
2x 188K5’ «F
APL. CPM
Ap
Ml
•APL terminal recommended
Apple II
£776
6502
1
48K
128K
40x24
Tv(M-)
•
256*192
w
7
T
CP M. DOS 3 3. UCSD-P
Ba
A8
Plenty of software and extras
Apple lie
£972
6502
64K
128K
80x24
M +
•
w
7
7
DOS
Ba
A8
Not an Apple III
Apple III
£2.780
6502
2
128K
256K
80x24
(M + )
•
560x192
w
T
4
1 x140K5’xF
SOS. DOS
A8
Will emulate Apple II
Apple Lisa
£9.775
68000
8
1Mb
120x30
M
792 x 360
w
•
2
7
7
2x860K5’/4F
Lisa
A8
Learning lime 30 mins
Archives 1
£3.003
ao
4
64K
80x25
M
•
240x100
23
•
2
i
7
5^
2x386K5'4F
CPM
SI
Standard CPM * graphics
Archives IV
£5.905
280
4
512K
80x2S
M
•
240x100
w
23
•
1
i
7
1x10Mb5V.H+1x7445V.F
CPM. MPM
SI
Hard disk version
Atari 400
£150
65026
1 79
16K
40x24
Tv
•
320x192
T
3
7
•
Cassette
Ba
A5
Games computer Basic extra
Atari 000
£300
6602
1 8
48 K
40x24
Tv(M+)
•
320x192
w'
3
7
7
Cassette
Ba
A5
Versatile, good graphics
Bar cellos AMT 100
£3.450
ZBOA
4
64K
256K
80x24
TvM
*r
8
•
~i~
T
2
7
2 » 500K8F
CPM
BaCo
•
Bl
Up to lour users
BASF 7100
£5.005
Z80A
4
64K
80x24
M
w
26
•
i
i
3x 163K5' <F
BOS
Ba
Cl
Hard disc promised
Basis 100
£1.683
6502
1
64K
126K
80x24
TvM
•
820x168
w 1
15
•
i
i
7
•
C12
Apple bus. Z80 80 columns
BBC Micro Model A
£299
6602
1 8
16K
32K
40x30
Tv(M ♦)
•
320 x 256
7
JIO
—
7
MOS
BaAs
A1
Upgradable to Model B
BBC Micro Model B
£399
6502
2
32K
80x30
Tv(M-)
•
640 x 256
w
JJ
5
7
•
MOS
BaAs
A1
Versatile and expandable
BMC OKI it BOO. Model 20
£4.360
Z80B
5
64K
256K
80x25
M
•
640 x 200
w
15
•
7
•
2x 340K5’/4F
CPM
Ba
El
Built-in printer
Bonsai SM 3000
£2.294
280
2
64K
80x24
M
80x24
w
"m
•
T|
2 x 350K5V.F
CPM
B2
CP M business machine
Bonsai SM 4000
£2.842
8086
5
128K
256K
80 «24
M
w
14
•
1
i
CPM. MPM. MS-DOS
B2
Z80 for 8 bit software
Britannia Baby
£2,657
8086
6 14
64K
80x25
Tv(Mx)
80x25
w
11
•
2^
i
2 « 500K5’ iF
CPM
AsBaCo
B3
Cobol language included
British Micro Mirm 803
£1.720
ZBOA
4
64K
80x25
(M +)
512x256
w
17
•
1
i
7
2x400K5’/4F
OSM
B4
This is CP V compatible
C-1010
£4.197
6602
1
64K
128K
80x24
TvM
256x192
w
2£
•
1
7
1
7
•
1 x 1405’ xF + 1x1 OMbH
CP M. DOS. UCSD-P
Bh
C2
Apple II compatible
CAL PC
£2.294
8088
5
128K
256K
80x25
TvM
7
256 x 512
w
•
2
7
1
5
2x400K5’ xF
CPM
Ba
C3
Also Z806 Processor
Caltext Micro
£2.019
Z80A
4
64K
256K
00x24
TvM
w
se
■*
1
7
J
2x400K5V«F
CPM
C3
Flange of software included
Computers Lynx
£225
ZBOA
4
48K
192K
40x24
Tv(M + )
•
248x256
w
1
i
7
Cassette
Ba
C5
Unusual — promise of CP M
Canon AS100
£2.633
8068 |
4
128K
512K
80x25
M
•
640x400
w
TF
j
7
2x640K5’/4F
C4
Choice of CP M86 or MS-DOS
Canon CX-1
£2.500
6809
4
128K
256K
80x24
M
80x25
w
15
7
~3~
i
7
2
2 x 320K5%F
MCX
BaAs
C4
Pascal. Fortran as extras
Casio FX 702P
£90
Oust
2K
20x1
LCD
•
Cassette
Ba
C6
Pocket computer
Casio PB100
£50
Cost
07K
1 7K
60x1
LCD
fi
•
7
•
: assetie
Ba
C6
Business pocket computer
Casu Mini C2
£2.300
ZBOA
4
64K
(M+)
T
7
6
2 * 1 Mb8F
C7
‘Choose your own terminal
Citer Series 1
£3.214
ZOO
4
128K
320K
132*32
TvM
w
4tT
•
3
i
2x0OOK5’/4F
CPM
'
C17
Other models available
Clenlo Pronto
£3.795
ZBOA
4
64K
'Ml-
Tv(M + )
2
2
Ji
2x6OOK0F
CPM
Ba
ce
•Choice of terminal
Clenlo Table-Top 925
£3.105
ZBOA
4
64K
128K
80x25
M
w
TT
•
2
2
2x 800K8F
CPM
C8
Watch out lor the weight
Columbia PC1600-1
£3.392
8068
4 77
128K
1Mb
80x24
M
•
640x200
w
10
•
2
1
7
2X 320K5V.F
CP M. MS-DOS
hr~
11
An IBM lookalike
Commodore VIC 20
£170
6602
»
~5K|
32K
22x23
Tv(M ♦)
7
176x158
w_
8
7
i
7
Kemal
C9
Very popular home micro
Commodore 64
E345
6510
1
64K
40x25
Tv(M + )
•
320 x 200
W
8
3
•
Kernel
Ba
•
C9
Good value lor money
Commodore 500
E799
6509
1
128K
B96K
40x25
Tv(M-)
•
320x 200
w
10
•
1
1
3
1
•
Kernel
Ba
•
C9
Available by summer?
Commodore 4016
£632
6502
1
16K
32K
40x25
TvM
w
•
1
1
3
•
Cassette. PETDOS
Ba
•
C9
The original PET
Commodore 710
El.144
6509
2
128K
896K
80x25
TvM
w
10
•
1
1
2
1
•
Kemal
Ba
•
C9
Might be a long wait
Commodore 0032
El,129
6502
1
32K
96K
80x25
TvM
w
•
1
1
•
Cassette. PETDOS
Ba
•
C9
The 80-column PET
Commodore 8096
El.374
6502
1
96K
80x25
TvM
w
•
1
1
•
Cassette. PETDOS
Ba
•
C9
Fully expanded PET
Commodore Super Pet 9000
El.719
6502
2
96K
80x25
TvM
w
•
1
1
1
2
•
Cassette PETDOS
Ba
•
C9
Top ot the range
Compucorp 675
£6.780
Z80
4
64K
256K
80x20
M
w
20
•
1
4
2x 655KSV*F
Compucorp
•
CIO
Unusual O S
Compuster
£5.837
Z80A
4
64K
80x25
M
w
•
2
1x10MD8H*1x350K5%f
CPM
Ba
•
no
N^twocKing system
Comart Communicator CPI 00
£2.180
Z80
4
64K
512K
80x24
M
w
•
2
1
10
2x390K5%F
CPM
•
C13
Business CP M micro
Comx 35
£120
1802
35K
67K
40x24
Tv
•
c
•
Cassette
Ba
C14
Built-in joystick
Cortex
£454
9995
12
64K
1Mb
40x24
Tv(M-r)
•
256x192
w
12
•
1
•
BaAs
M2
Mainly sold as £340 tut
Corvus Concept
£4.887
68000
8
256K
1Mb
120x60
M
720x560
w
10
•
2
1
4
Merlin
Pa
•
K1
A4 shaped screen
Country Computers Cl000
£4.542
6502
1
64K
128K
80x24
M
280x192
w
12
•
1
3
1 x 10MbSV4t +• 1 x 140K5' if
DOS. CPM
Ba
C1I
Runs al Apple software
Country Computers C3000
£2.242
Z80A
4
64K
256K
1
1
1 x 5Mb5 V<H ♦ 1 x 500K5 V«F
CPM
•
C16
'Terminal own choice
CP1100
£2.639
8086
6
128K
1Mb
(M+)*
2
1
7
2x 390K5’/.F
CPM 86
•
CIS
Choose your own terminal
Cromemco System 1
£3.025
ZBO
4
64K
80x24
(M + )
•
450 x 735
w
20
•
1
8
2x 390K5%F
COOS.Crom
•
C13
Designed lor business
Cromemco System 2
£3.560
zoo
4
64K
80x25
<M+)
w
20
•
1
21
2x 390K5V«F
COOS.Crom
•
C13
Large business machine
Cromemco System 3
£5.170
zoo
4
64K
80x25
(M + )
w
20
•
21
2*1 2Mb8F
COOS.Crom
•
C13
Top end Cromec
DAI PC
£684
8080
2
48K
60x24
Tv(M+)
•
255 x 335
w
1
•
Cassette
Ba
09
Optional maths chip
Datac Micro Controller
£431
ZBO
2
16K
40x24
Tv(M + )
80x60
w
1
1
1
•
Ba
•
D1
Mainly used in labs
DEC Rainbow 100
£2.714
8088
NA
64K
192K
132x24
M
•
960 x 240
w
20
•
2
3
2x400K5V„F
CPM
•
D2
Competitor tor IBM PC
DEC PC 325
£3.000
PDP1123
N A
256K
132x24
M
•
960 x 240
w
20
•
2
1
2X400K5V.F
P'06
•
02
Mini in micro clothing
DEC PC 350
£3.850
PDP1123
NA
256K
132x24
M
•
960 x 240
w
20
•
2
4
2x400K5’/«F
POS
•
D2
Mini in micro clothing
Decision-1 Computer MDC-011
C2.869
Z80A
4
64K
192K
(M+r
3
1
1
2x400K5V«F
CPM
Ba
•
12
'Buy your own terminal
Decision-1 Computer MDC-012
£3,674
Z80A
4
64K
192K
(M+r
3
1
1
1 x 400K5' <F ♦ 1 x 5Mb5ViH
CPM
Ba
•
12
•You choose the terminal
Diablo 3000
£7.250
8085
3
32K
64K
80x24
M
w
8
•
1
4
2*1 8Mb8F
DACL
Ba
•
B5
Unusual O S
Digico Prince
£3.392
Z80A
4
64K
80x25
M
w
50
•
2
7
2x400K5V«F
CPM
•
D3
Unusual keyboard
Digital Microsystems DMS-3
£3.576
Z80A
4
64K
<m«t
3
1
2x512KSF
CPM
•
D4
•Choice of terminal
Digital Microsystems DMS-4
£6.210
Z80A
4
128K
’»Mb
iM+r
4
2x512K8F
MPM
•
D4
‘Depends on terminal chosen
Direct 1000
£3.093
ZBO
4
64K
80x25
M
132x28
w
2
2x300K5’/«F
CPM
•
D5
Standard CP M machine
DMSFox
£2.875
Z80A
4
64K
80x24
M
w
16
•
3
1
1
1 2Mb5’/4F
CPM
•
D4
Portable machine
Dragon 32
£200
6809E
1
32K
64K
32x16
Tv(M-)
•
256x192
w
1
4
1
•
Cassette
Ba
D6
T andy colour tookakke
Durango F85
£5.744
8085A
5
64K
196K
80x64
Tv<M + )
w
•
4
1
12
2x lMb5’ »F
Star Basic
BaCo
•
C3
BuMt in printer
Eagle II
£2,702
Z80A
4
64K
80x24
M
80x24
w
•
2
1
1
2x500K5'/*F
CPM
Ba
•
M3
Includes WP SS software
Eagle HI
£2,950
Z80A
4
64K
80x24
M
80x24
w
•
1
2x1Mb6V«F
CPM
Ba
•
M3
Includes WPSS software
Eagle IV
£4,190
Z80A
4
64K
80x24
M
w
•
2
1
1
1x1Mb5’/.F-1x12 5Mb5ViH
CPM
Ba
•
M3
Includes WPSS software
Eagle 1600
£6.497
8086
8
128K
512K
80x25
M
•
720x352
w
24
•
2
1
1
8
1 x 1 Mb5 ViF +1x12 SMt>5 V4f
MS-DOS. CPM 86
•
M3
High speed IBM copy
Enterprise 1000
£2,645
8
64K
M
w
10
•
2
2
2 x 358K5’/.F
Enterprise
•
D7
Micro Nova 16-M
Epson HX20
£472
6301
1
16K
32K
20x4
ICO
120x32
w
13
•
2
2
•
Cassette
Ba
E2
Powerful portable
Epson 0X10
£1.995
Z80
4
192K
256K
80x25
M
640x400
w
18
•
1
1
5
2 * 320K5’ «F
CPM
Ba
•
E2
Expansion required tor Valdocs
Equator
£8.842
Z80A
4
64 K
448K
80x24
M
255x560
w
14
•
7
1
1
8
1 x5Mb5'/«F ♦ 1 x750K5'/iF
CP M. MP M, Turbo DOS
•
E3
Two bigger models available
Factt 6520
£2.645
ZBO
4
64 K
128K
80x24
M
80x24
w
8
•
2
2 x 320K5’ *F
CPM, Face DOS
Ba
•
FI
Concurrent printing
Fortune 32:16 System 2
£5.204
68000
6
256K
1Mb
80x24
M
•
1024x1024
w
16
•
1
20
2*800K5'*F
Unix
•
13
Genuine 16-bit
Fujitsu FM8
£1.150
6809
1
64K
80x25
(M + )
•
640*200
w
10
•
1
1
4
1
•
Flex
Ba
S2
Good for business graphics
Future Computers FX-20
£2.156
8088
8
128K
1Mb
80x25
M
800*400
w
20
•
2
2
2x800K5'/4F
CPM 86. MS-DOS
•
El
Still on a promise
Genie 1
£330
ZOO
1.7
16K
46K
64x16
Tv(M + )
128*48
w
1
t
1
•
Cassette
Ba
•
12
Compatible wilhTRS 861
Genie II
£299
ZBO
1.7
16K
48K
64x16
TvtMi)
128*48
w
4
•
1
1
•
Cassette
Ba
•
12
Speed ed-up Game 1
Genie Ml
£1.897
Z80A
32
64K
80x24
M
160x72
w
8
•
1
1
1
3
2x 700KS'/4F
New DOS
Ba
•
L2
CP M costs extra
Colour Genie
£168
ZBO
2.2
32K
40x24
Tv(M + )
•
160x96
w
6
1
1
2
1
•
Cassette
Ba
L2
Home games machine
Gemini Galaxy 2
£1.719
ZBO
4
64K
512K
80x25
M
160x75
w
10
•
1
1
1
5
•
2x400K5’/4F
CPM
•
G1
Low cost British system
Globe 101
£1.850
8065
3
64K
80x24
M
w
20
•
3
2x 325K5'/.F
CPM
•
G4
Wordstar plus Mail Merge me
Hawk Model 110
£2.070
Z80A
4
64K
256K
(M+)*
•
2
1
3
2x 390K5'/4F
CP M. MP M2
•
L6
‘Choose your terminal
Hawk Model 2110
£5.405
Z80A
4
64K
2S6K
(M+r
•
2
1
3
1 x390K5’/4F+ 1 *2iMbH
CP M. MP M2
•
L6
‘Choose your terminal
Haywood 9000 Composite
£2.064
Z80A
4
64K
192K
80x25
M
.
64 x 255
w
34
•
2
8
2 * 320K5' *F
CPM
As
•
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Haywood Hmet
CIO,982
zoo
4
64K
128K
80«24
M
w
□
□
_3_
1
'
1x11Mb8H
CPM
HI
Large network machine
HP 75C
C863
Cust
NA
16K
24K
32x1
(Mi)
c
1
4
•
1 3K card reader
HP
Ba
H2
Calculator computer
HP 85
£2 360
Cust
NA
16K
32K
32x20
M
255x191
w
8
•
T
4
4
•
Cassene
Ba
H2
Engineers machine
HP86A
Cl .541
Cust
NA
64K
512K
80x24
M
544 x 240
w
i
T
2
4
HP
Ba
•
H2
CP M optional
HP 87XM
C2.571
Cust
NA
128K
640K
80x24
M
544 x 240
w
14
i
i
1
3
4
HP DOS
Ba
•
H2
Special technical uses
HP Seoes 100. 120
£2 362
Z80A
368
64K
80x24
M
80x24
w
0
2
1
CPM
Ba
H2
Top end HP business system
HP Series 200 Model 16A
C3.212
68000
0
128K
750K
80*25
M
w
5
1
T
T
HP
H2
Genuine 16-brt
Hytech H4500
C4.310
Z80
4
64K
208K
80x25
M
80x25
w
26
1
3
2*403K5%F
CPM
Ba
H3
Standard CP M micro
IBM PC
£2.392
0088
47
64K
576K
80x25
(M+)
•
640x200
w
10
T
5
1 *360K5%F
MS-DOS
Ba
19
Slow but reliable
ICL PC Model 10
£2.754
0065
3
64K
256K
80x24
Tv(M + )
w
11
T
8
2* 700K5%F
CPM
Ba
Repackaged Ran Black Box
ICL PC Model 31
£4.939
8085
3
128K
256K
80x24
<M»)
80x24
w
11
4
8
1 x 2S0K5V*F ♦ 1 x 5MbH
CP M. MP M
Ba
14
Multi user Black box
ICL PC Model 32
C6.037
8085
3
256K
80x24
<M + )
80x24
w
11
0
8
1x250K5'/4F+1x5MbH
CPM. MP M
Ba
14
Topol ICL range
IOS Datamachine
Cl .995
Z80
4
64K
1Mb
Tv(M + )
2
15
2*400K5V«F
CPM
Ba
18
•Depends on terminal
lOTech Iona
£2,539
Z80
4
69K
960K
80x24
M
•
160x75
w
12
1
T
0^
•
2*400K5’.F
CPM
15
Good colour versatility
Irvine Business Systems
£1.489
ZOO
4
64K
80x25
M
w
2^
2x400K5 v «F
CPM
16
Inexpensive CP M machine
ITT 3030
£3.105
Z80A
4
64K
256K
80x24
Tv(M •)
80x24
w
8
1
1
T
2x280K5'4F
CPM. BOS
17
Top end business system
Jupiter Ace
£90
ZOO
325
3K
51K
32x24
Tv(M»)
64x46
c
i
•
Fr
J1
Native Forth machine
Kalamazoo 1050
£3.450
8085
6
64K
80x24
Tv(M»)
80x24
w
To"
T
2x250K5’/4F
Kalamazoo
K3
Only Kabot language
Kayproll
£1.949
ZOO
4
64K
80x24
M
w
i
T
2x200K5’/4F
CPM
Ba
C15
A portable business machine
Kemitron K2000E
£2.242
zoo
4
64K
80x24
(M + )
80x24
w"
2
i
ii
1*300K5-4F
CPM
K4
Scientific Keyboard
Kemilron K3000
£3.795
zoo
4
64K
256K
80x24
(M +)
80x24
w
2
14
2* lMb8F
CP M. MP M
K4
For scientific use
Kenilworth 83G
£1.953
Z80A
4
64K
80x25
TvM
160x75
w
1?
1
T
5
2 x 350K5.F
CPM
K5
British portable
Kenilworth 83N
£2.012
ZOO
4
64K
80x25
TvM
160x75
w
10
1
T
T
2 * 350K5’ *F
CPM
Ba
K5
Includes Basic
Kontron RSI 00
£3.306
ZOO
4
64K
128K
80x25
M
256x512
w
16
2
i
2x303K5’/4F
Kontron
Ba
K6
OS CPM based
LSI M3
£2.064
ZOO
25
64K
80x24
M
80x24
v\T
1
i
2x200K5’/4F
CPM
L3
Big British and CPM
LSIM4
£2,472
0088
5
128K
256K
80x24
M
160x72
w
31
2
i
T
2x400K5’4F
CP M 86. CP M80
L3
ZOO for 8-brt software
Logics VTS Vitesse
£2.863
0086
5
64K
2S6K
80x24
M
•
640 x 288
12
1
i
4
2*1Mb5’.F
CPM. MS-DOS
Ba
L4
High-res colour graphics
Mann Ch*) M9900
£5.750
9900
3
64K
i 6Mb
24x80
M
24x80
8
4
ii
2*1 2Mb8F
MOS. MDEX
Ba
M2
Genuine 16-bit
Micro Five 1000
£5.175
0088
8
128K
512K
25x80
TvM
512x512
w
20
10
2
2 x 1 Mb5’ *f *2x6 3Mb5’ *H
F2
•Choose your own 0 S
Micro Five 3000
£10.350
0086
5
128K
1Mb
25x80
TvM
512x512
w"
20
5
3
•
1 * 10Mb8F
F2
‘Choose your own O S
Mtcrodedsion
£1.144
Z80
4
64K
80x24
(M + )
2
1 * 200K5V.F
CPM
Ba. Pilot
12
•Terminal extra
Microsolulion British Genius
£1.840
ZOO
4
64K
80x24
TvM
80x24
w'
2\
1
T|
2x160K5’/4F
CPM
M4
Genius by nature 7
Microtan 65
£389
6502
1
8K
48K
25x64
(TvM-r)
w
1
2
•
Tanbug
Ba
M8
Expandable in many ways
Millbanh SX10
£2.754
Z80A
4
65K
256K
80x25
M
80x25
w
"io"
2
~
2x 350K5’/4F
CPM
As
M5
Scientific applications
Molecular M200
£5.462
Z80
4
64K
320K
(M+r
2
1
Te
1 x lOMbSH + l * 5O0K8F
CPM
* BaAs ~
*
G2
•Terminal required
Monroe EC8800
£2.990
Z80A
3
128K
40x24
M
240x240
w
32
3
3
1 x320K5’4F
Monroe
Ba Pa Pi lot
F3
Only 40-character screen
Monroe OC8810
£3.162
Z80A
3
128K
80x24
M
80x24
vV
3^
2
T
1 *320K5’ 4F
Monroe
BaPa
F3
Bigger model available
Muhrtech MPFII
£269
6502
12
64K
40x24
Tv(M + )
•
280x192
T
1
i
•
Cassette
Ba '
S8
Apple soft compatible
Nascom 2
£327
Z80A
4
2K
64K
16x48
Tv(M + )
48*96
w
~T
4
•
NAS SYS
BaAs
L5
Old reliable
Nascom 3
£549
ZOO
4
48K
16x48
Tv(M + )
48x96
w
1
4
•
NAS. SYS
BaAs
L5
Fully expanded Nascom
NEC PC8000
£1.454
ZOO
4
32K
64K
80x25
M
[•
160x100
w
10
•
2
~T
2 * 300K5%F
CP M NEC. DOS
Ba
N1
Superb colour graphics
New Brain A
£269
Z80A
4
32K
512K
60x30
Tv(M *)
640 * 220
c
2
T
•
Cassette
Ba
G3
A lot of promise
North Star Advantage
£2.766
ZOO
4
64K
80x24
M
640 * 240
w
7?
1
6
2 x 360K5’.F
CPM
T9
16-bit option
North Star Horizon
£2.294
ZOO
4
64K
512K
2
T
T
9
2x360K5’.F
North Star DOS
Ba
T9
•Choose your own terminal
OEM Orion
£3.392
8086
8
128K
896K
80x25
TvM
800*400
w
7T
•
_n
_6_
2x500K5’/4F
CPM 86
BaCo
05
•Full communications machine
Olivetti M20D
£2,754
Z8000
3
160K
512K
80x25
M
•
512x256
W
•
1
,
5
2x 320K5'/*F
PCOS
Ba
B6
Real 16-bitler
Olympia Boss Model A
£2,645
Z80A
4
64K
80x28
M
•
80x28
w
10
•
1
4
2X140K5V.F
CPM
01
Useful 28 lines on screen
£7.607
Z80A
4
128K
256K
5
1
•
1 x 7Mb5' iH
CPM
Ba
T2
"Terminal extra; other models
£139 95
6502A
1
48K
40x28
Tv(M + )
•
240x200
c
1
i
•
Cassette
Ba
02
16K promised
£1.561
ZOO
4
64K
52x24
M
128x32
w
10
•
1
i
2x ISSKSViF
CPM
Ba
03
Portable, includes software
£3.795
0O85A
4
60K
80x24
M
80x24
w
21
•
3
2 * 250K8F
CPM
Ba
PI
Larger model costs £5.002
£1.437
Z80A
4
64K
80x24
M
w
•
1
1
2x2S0K8F
CPM
W1
Regular CP M micro
Pascal Modular Microengine
£7.003
WD9000
2
128K
4
8
2x1 2Mb6F
UCSD-P
Pa
P2
"Terminal extra
£3.000
Z60A
4
64K
320K
80x25
M
w
11
•
2
2x0 6Mb5' «F
Turbo-DOS
Co
P3
Fast O S as standard
Positron 900
£1.259
1
64K
2S8K
(M+)
4
i
3
OS 9
Ba
P4
"You choose your terminal
Positron 9000
£2,134
1
64K
256K
80x24
TvM
•
480 x 240
w
12
•
4
i
3
OS 9
Ba
P4
Multi user version
£2.587
Z80A
4
64K
192K
80x25
M
160x75
w
18
•
1
1
5
•
3x860K5V«F
CPM
Q1
Mono, tow-res graphics
Rair Black Box Modal 320S
£2.242
0005
5
64K
512K
80x24
(M»)
2
8
2x 1Mb5V«F
CPM
Ba
R1
"VDU extra, many versions
Racal 6000
£6,327
Z80
S
64K
256K
80x26
M
80x26
W
21
•
,
1
1 x 19Mb5'/iH +1 x 1 Mb5' <F
1 * 600K8F
CPM, PC DOS
CPM
Ba
R2
Hybrid 816 bit
CP M languages available
Research Machines 380Z
£2,147
Z80A
4
32K
56K
40x24
Tv(M +)
w
1
1
4
•
2x144K5V«F
CPM
Ba
R3
Widely used in schools
Sage II
£4,019
68000
8
512K
(M + )
•
2
T
T
-
—
•
2X640K5V.F
Cassette
UCSD-P System
Ba
BaAsPaFn
R3
T10
CP Net version available
"Terminal extra
Sage IV
£5.962
8
128K
iMb
(M + >
•
6
i
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2 x 640K5F +1 x 6MbH5 <
UCSD-P System
Paftafn
T10
"Terminal own choice
Samurai
£3.214
0006
46
128K
768K
80x25
M
•
720x400
w
•
3
i
3
2x1 2Mb8F
MS DOS. CPM 86
M6
Fhgh-res colour graphics
Sanyo MBC 1000
£1.195
Z0OA
4
64K
80x25
M
80x25
w
17
•
1
1
1x320K5V.F
CPM
Ba
LI
Stwidard CP M model
Sanyo MBC 1250
£2.294
Z80
4
64K
80x40
M
640 x 400
w
•
1
i
2x 640K5V«F
CPM
Ba
LI
High-res graphics
£2.242
0O85A
5
64 K
80x24
M
80x24
w
24
•
2
1
2
2x 328K5'/4F
CPM
Ba
LI
Big disc model costs £3.622
Seed System 1
£2.300
6600
2
32K
64K
80x24
M
80x24
w
3
•
2
±
8
2x640K5ViF
2x 160K5' iF
CPM 86
DOS 68 Flex
Ba
Ba
LI
S3
Pseudo 16-brt
Ageing business machine
Seed System 19
£2.600
2
40K
1Mb
80x24
M
w
3
•
2
8
2x I6OK5V4F
OS-9
S3
Latest from Seed
Sharp MZ80A
Sharp MZ806
£549
£900
Z0O
Z60A
2
4
48K
64K
40x25
M
80x50
w
•
•
Sharp Basic
Ba
S4
CP M facility extra
Sharp PC1251
£79 95
Cust
58
4 2K
LCD
24x1
c
10
•
1
•
Sharp Basic
Ba
S4
S4
Unusual keyboard
Pocket computer
Sharp PC 1500
£170
Cust
13
3 5K
11 5K
26x1
LCD
156x7
c
6
•
1
i
2
•
Cassette
Ba
S4
Optional 4-pen plotter
Sharp PC3201
£2,300
Z80A
26
64K
112K
80x25
M
160x50
w
1°l
•
5
2 x 500K5’/4F
Sharp Basic
Ba
S4
Powerful Sharp Basic
Signet 10025
£1.599
ZB0B
6
64K
80x24
M
•
512x512
w
•
2
i
1
2x200K5V!iF
CPM. Macnos
A6
Choice of keyboards
Sinclair ZX81
£40
Z80A
35
IK
16K
32x24
Tv
64x44
c
1
•
Cassette
Ba
S5
Sold a million
Sinclair Spectrum
£99
Z60A
35
16K
48K
32x24
Tv
•
256x192
c
1
•
Cassette
Ba
S5
Very popular home micro
Sirius 1
£2.754
8068
5
128K
896K
80x25
M
800 x 400
w
7
•
2
1
4
2x600K5’/4F
CP M 86. MS DOS
Ba
A7
IBM style
SordM5
£190
4
4K
16K
40x24
Tv(M + )
•
256x196
c
i
2
•
Cassette
Ba
S6
Japanese home computer
Sord M23
£1.932
Z80A
4
128K
80x25
M
•
w
14
•
2
1
2
3
2 x 330K5'/.F
Sord O S. S880
BaPips
S6
CP M compatible
Sord M23P
£2.369
Z80A
4
128K
80x25
Tv(M + )
•
640x 200
w
14
•
2
i
2
2
2x290K3'*F
Sord O^S. SB80
BaPips
S6
Complete with suitcase
Sord M223
£3.277
Z80
4
64K
80x25
M
w
•
2
4
2x 350K5V.F
Sord O S. SB80
BaPips
S6
Standard business machine
Sord M243
£5.642
Z80
4
80x25
M
•
640x400
w
15
•
4
i
4
2xiMb8F
Sord O S. SB80
BaPips
S6
Large and powerful
SW Technical Products S09
£5.750
6809
2
256K
1 2Mb
80x24
M
w
15
•
1
i
2x1 5Mb5'/iF
Flex. Uniflex
S7
Topend SWTP
£11.442
8
2S6K
4Mb
(M + )
4
16
2x720K5’/4F
Mirage
Ap
Ml
"As terminal
Sundance 1
Sundance II
£6,969
Z80A
Z80A
4
64K
256K
132x24
M
w
4
•
1
1
•
1 x 7Mb5V.H
CPM
Ba
T2
Ordinary CP M machine
Sundance 16
£10.480
Z8001
6
256K
1Mb
80x24
M
w
•
5
,
•
- r >< 1 7 n!^r- < M -
BOS
Ba
T2
T2
Middle-range Sundance
T ape backup for hard disc
Superbrain JR
£2.150
ZOO
4
64K
80x24
M
560 x 240
w
•
2
1
2x160K5’/«F
CPM
Ba
110
Bigger models available
Superstar
£6.296
ZOO
4
64K
80x24
Tv(M+)
80x24
1
i
8
1 x 10Mb5VliH+1 x 400K5' <F
CPM 80
Ba
B7
Includes hard disk
TandbergECtO
£3.000
0O0OA
2
64K
80x25
M
w
•
7
1*250K8F
CPM, TOS
Ba
T3
Very earty machine
Tandy TRS-00 Model II
£1.999
Z80A
4
64K
2S6K
80x24
M
80x24
w
2
•
2
i
1x500K8F
TRS-DOS
Ba
T4
Big business machine
Tandy TRS-60 Model III
Tandy TRS-00 Model 16
£1.299
£4,199
Z0OA
68000
2
8
48K
128K
512K
64x16
80x24
M
126x48
w
•
1
1
1
•
2x184K5'/«F
TRS-DOS
Ba
T4
Latest TRS80
Tandy TRS-60 Colour Computer
£240
6809E
16K
32K
32x16
Tv
•
256x192
w
1
•
TRS-DOS
Ba
T4
True 16-bit
Very popular
Tandy TRS-00 PC-4
£50
Cust
NA
'/>K
IV*
12x1
LCD
12x1
c
9
•
1
1
Cassettf
Ba
T4
Low-cost pocket computer
Tandy TRS-60 Pocket Computer 2
£130
Cust
13
26K
16K
26x1
LCD
156x7
c
6
•
•
Cassette
Ba
T4
Plotter available
Tetevideo TS-60ZH
£4,533
ZOO
4
64K
80x24
M
80x24
w
15
•
2
1
1x256K5'/*Fr1x7Mb5’.H
CPM
C11
Recently upgraded
Mila am) node!
Pnct
me VAT
Is
If
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I
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Otetoy
Guplxcs
Keyboard
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11
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vm
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64K
■
90-24
80*24
1
IB
D
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Standard CP M machine
Tetevkteo TS1602-C
E3.714
£2.386
8088
8088
5
5
128K
64K
256K
256K
80x24
80x25
M
M
-
576x424
w
w
9 2
9
1
-
-
-
2 x 256K5’/.F
1 x320K5V*F
CPV-86
—
□
□
C11
T5
Graphics, but no colour
Cho*e of operating systems
Texas Instruments TI-99 4A
El 50
9900
35
16K
52K
32x24
Tv(M+)
T
256x192
w
T
•
DOS
Ba
u
T5
This has sprite graphics
T1 System 200-250
£6.695
9900
4
64K
80x24
M
.
80x24
w
|T
_
_
_
_
_
1x5Mb6’.H
UCSD-P, PX10
Ba
u
□
T5
Bigger version available
*6502IO processor
Torch
E3.214
Z80*
4/2
96K
80x30
TvM
V
640x256
9 T
T
—
T
—
T
2x400K5’/*F
CPN
Ba
□
T8
CPMcompattote
Toshiba T-100
Cl.900
Z80A
4
64K
96K
80x25
TvM
•
640x200
w
9 1
i
T
T
2x25flK5V«F
CPM
Ba
u
04
Pro tost March 18
Toshiba T-200
£2.242
8085
26
64K
80x24
M
80x24
w
9 1
i
2x2S6K5'/«F
CPM
Ba
Ll
04
Standard CP M machine
Transam Truacan
£1.983
Z80A
4
64K
80x24
TvM
640 x 288
w
9 2
T
T
T
2x190K5V*F
CPM
U
S-100 machine
Transtec BC2
£1.949
Z80A
4
64K
256K
80x24
M
80x24
w
9 2
i
8
2x 386K5V«F
CPM
Ll
T8
Fully definable characters
Tmon4
£5.744
Z80A
4
64K
160K
80*24
M
w
9 1
i
3
2xl2Mb8F
MPSL-BOS
Ll
Til
Upgradable to Winchester disk
Vectors
£3.852
8068
5
128K
256K
80x24
M
640x312
w
9 1
i
i
2
2x630K5’/.F
CPM. CPM 86
Ba
U
A4
8 -bit and pseudo 16-brt
Victor 9000
£2.754
8088
5
128K
896K
80x25
M
800x400
w
9 2
i
4
2x 800K5’/4F
CP M 86. MS-DOS
Ba
□
D8
Same as Sinus 1
Weal 150
£6.846
88000
8
256K
1 5Mb
80x25
M
400x300
w
2
j
1
2x616K5F
MCS
Ba
□
S10
Upgradable to 32 user system
W4kes YD8110
£4.025
8086
5
128K
896K
80*24
M
•
960x624
w
9
i
6
2* 1 2Mb8F
CPM 86
Ba
\a
W2
Standard CP M machine
Xerox 820 Model II
£2,415
Z80A
4
64K
80x24
M
1024x612
w
9 2
2
2
2x 160K5’ iF
CPM
□
R4
Powerful graphics
Zenith 120-22
£2,978
8088
S
128K
192K
00x25
M
640x 225
w
• 2
1
T
T
5
2 x 320K5’/4F
CPM. MS-DOS. Z Base
in
Z1
Graph** includes turtle
Zenith Z89-81
£1.668
Z80
25
48K
64K
80x24
M
w
» 2
1
1x100K5’/4F
CPM
Ba -
□
Z1
Elderly CP M machine
Zeus 4
£5.400
zao
4
64K
320K
80x25
(Mr)
—
80x26
w
>| 10
-
-
—
—
-
1 x 6Mb5 V.H -r1 x 250K5 ViF
CPM. Muse
As
M6
Designed as multi-user
DISTRIBUTORS
74201 A7 ACT, 021-454 8585 AS Apple
52657 A5 Alan International (UR), Slough 33344 AS Anglolech Computers. Slough
Computers, Hemel Hempstead 60244 AS Anderson Jacobson Ltd. Slough 25172
B1 Barcetos Ltd, Leicester 541574 B2 Bonsai. 01 -580 0902 B3 Britannia Computet lb. lubbji w ........ —
48222 B5 Business Computers Ltd. 01-207 3344 B6 British Olivetti. 01-785 6666 87 Bromley Computer Consultant}. 01-697 8933
Cl Computer Phenpherals Lid. 01 -278 7837 C2 Country Computers Ltd. Redditch 29826 C3 Computer Ancillanes, Egham 36455
C4 Canon (UK) Ltd. 01 -680 7700 C5 Camputers Lynx. Cambridge 315063 CS Casio. 01-450 9131 C7 Casu Electronics Ltd.
Uxbndoe 72511 CSClento Computing Systems. 01-670 4202 C« Commodore Business Machines. Slough 79292 CIO Compucorp.
01 -9070198 Cl 1 Colt Computer Systems. 01-577 2686 Cl2 Community Computers, PetersfiekJ 87567 C13 Comart. Huntingdon
215005 C14 Computers For All, Basildon 418414 C15 CK Computer. Plymouth 780311 C16 Country Computers. Redditch 29826
C17Citer MeStsham 706361
D1 Datac. 061-941 2361 D2 Dec Lid, Basingstoke 59200 D3 Digico. Lelchworth 78172 D4 Digital Microsystems. Reading 343885
DS Direct (UK). Warrington 814072 D6 Dragon Data Ltd. Kenfig Hilt 744700 D7 Data General. 01 -572 7455 08 DRG,
Weston-Super-Mare 415398 D8 Data Applications, Cirencester 61828
El Encotel Systems. 01-686 9687 E2 Epson (UK). 01-902 8892 E3 Equinox. 01 -739 2387
FI Faot Addo Ltd. Medway 401721 F2 Five Technology, Lichlield 57701 F3 FI Cord. 061-445 7716 F4 Flight Electronics.
Southampton 27721
G1 Gemini Micros. Amersham 28321 G2 Gecas. 01-629 3758 G3 Grundy Business Systems, 01-9431901 G4 Globe Business
Machines. Weston-Super-Mare 83522 _
HI Haywood Electronic Aaoc Lid. 01-428 0111 H2 Hewlett Packard. Bracknell 63100 M3 Hytech Microsystems. Oxford 726644
II Icarus Computer Systems. 01-485 657412 Interam Computer Systems. 01-675 532513IBR Microcomputers. Reading 66411114
ICL, Slough 31111 1510 Technology 01-248 487616 Irvine Business Systems Ltd. Irvine 7500017 ITT Consumer Products.
Basildon 304018 Interactive DataSystems, Milton Keynes 31399719 IBM UK Product Sales Ltd. 01-578 4399110 Intertec Data
Systems. 01-840 1599
J1 Jupiter Cantab Cambridge 313479
K1 Keen Computers. Nottingham 412777 K2 KGB Micros. Slough 38581 K3 Kalamazoo Business Systems. 021-475 2191 K4
Kemitron, Chester 21817 K5 Kenilworth Computers. Kenilworth 512127 K6 Kontron Computers. St Albans 66222 __
LI Logitek. Standtsh 426644 L2 Lowe Electronics. Matlock 4995 L3 LSI Computers Ltd. Woking 23411 U Loglca VTS. 01-637
5171LS Lucas Logic. Kenilworth 59412 L8 Leicester Micro Systems. Leicester 551869
Ml Micro APL Ltd. 01-834 2687 M2 Microprocessor Engineering, Southampton 775482 M3 Mediatech, 01-903 4372 M4
MieroSkitwn. Chipping Norton 3256 MS M.ilbank Computer. 01891 4691 ft Micro Networks Ltd. 01-602 7405 M7 Mattel. 01-900
0311 MS Microtome Computer Systems. 01893 1137
N1 NEC 01 -388 6100
Ol Olympia Boss Systems. 01-262 6788 02 One Products international. Ascot 27686 03 Osborne Computer. Milton Keynes
615274 04 Ottlca International. Sunburv-on-Thames 85666 05 OEM. 01-407 3191 _
PI Panasonic Business Equipment (UlQ. Slough 75841 P2 Pronto Electron* Systems. 01 -554 6222 P3 Phillips Business Systems
Colchester 575115 P4 Positron ComputerLtoNewton-le-wmows 29741 PS PHL, 021 -745 3033
R1 ^?^8^66wfS RKa?*RMdi^7Mi58 R3 Research Machines Lid. Oxford 249666 R4 Rar* Xerox^Uxbndge 51137
SI Salmon Electronics. Oarlington 721368 S2 Stirling Microsystems. 01-486 7671 S3 Seed. Brownhilts 378151 S4 Sharp
Electron** 061-205 2333 S5Sinclair Research Cambertey 681666 S6 Sord. 01-930 4214 S7 SWTP Peterborough 234433 S8
Svtel UK Lid. Peterborough 236010 S9 Shetton Instruments. 01-278 6272 S10 Software Sciences Ltd. Famborough 544321
T1 Triumph Adler, 01 -2501717 T2 Thames Systems Thame 5471 T3 Tandberg, Leeds 774844 T4 Tandy Company, Walsall
648181 T5 Texas Instruments Bedford 67466 T9 Torch Computers. Cambridge 841000T7Transam M*rosvstems 01-406 5240
T9 Transtec. Bristol 277462 T9 TRW Datecom International Ltd. Windsor 59183 T10 TDI. Bristol 742796 Til Tnvector Commerce,
W^VeMnwLtofo^-578 0957 W2 Wilkes Computers. Bristol 277399
Z1 Zenith Data Systems. Gloucester 29451
ZXS1 fully expanded I6K primer hi-rcs
190-ZSS graphics, sound, three tracks,
full keyboard, extra ROM MC monitor
cost £225 accept £145. Tel: Maidstone
Ml 142 (eve).
BBC games to simp. Bug Byte A/Soft etc.
originals only. also Atari-VCS games for
sale £14 o.n.o. SInvader. PacMan etc.
Ring Danny any time 0933 673261.
S ps et ram 4KK four months old. £ 100 with
instructions, games Offers J Miotla. 9
Merlin Way. Swindon. Wilts. Tel: 0793
23292 after 7pm (will send computer
Mai 400 I6K+ Basic + Manuals, seven
months old. £8So.n.o. Tel: Mick 01-361
7042 Hayes. Middx
Lynx 4*8 one month old. boxed and in
tnint condition, complete with tapes and
newsletter. £185. Tel: Swansea (0792)
891578 (evenings) require quick sale.
Shag PC 1211 with printer cassette era
die £85. Microwarc disk drive for BBC
Micro complete with utilities disk and
cables £145. Tel: 0201 «M2I
32N Vic 20 expandable to 40. columns
(£10) +C2N drive -t- Super Expander 4
Intro Bask l + ll ♦ joystick + cover +
magazines 4 £50 software, worth £335
accept £200 or swop for Lynx 48. Tel:
0254 37959 Lancashire, ask for Paul
(after 5pm). Buyer collects,
l OK ZX81. leads. manual three tapes 3D
Monster Maze. Defender. Space Raid¬
ers, good condition.must sell £65 o.n.o.
Tel: 01-4028551 during evenings
Spectrum software. Heathrow £4. 3D
Tunnel £3.50. MCodcr 2 £5. Horace
Goes Skiing £3. Work-Force toolkit £3,
Pac Man £2. 3D Maze £2 50. 75 Hind-
bum Close. Doncaster
Pat 3032 c/w cassette unit, books,
software and cover etc. £325 ono. Tel:
Haywards Heath 0444 454387
Aeon Atom. I2K RAM. I2K ROM.
PSl , leads, manuals, software, sound
amplifier. I Ocontrol hoard. 6522 VIA.
Cost £210. sell for£IOO. Tel: Crayford (2)
529436
We 20 +8K. C2N, Rat Race. Jelly
Monsters. Joysticks, Boss. Kaktus.
Frantic. Arcadia, Vic Revealed, excel¬
lent condition, fully boxed, only £250.
Tel: St Helens (0744) 52354
Sharp MZ80A 48K with built-in monitor
and keyboard, plus two stock control
programs, two Basics, manual and
PEE King book. Total value £600. will
■ooqM £450ono M (061)3702038
Sharp MZ80K software: utility, games
Sharp MZ80K 48K£199 S Payton. The
Prince of Wales Inn. Linghcld Road.
East Grinstcad. Sussex RN192EQ. Tel:
(0342)25703.
Zaam cassette for Atari 400800 also
Savage Island. The Count. Defender.
Asteroids. ROM Sell or swop Tel:
Mick 01-789 7058 Wimbledon. London.
TltS-40 32K Level 2 expansion interface
with monitor and cassette plus Aculab
floppy tape drive and Ouickpnnter. over
£400 software, complete system. £400.
Leicester 700619.
Mart 800-48K plus disk drive, plus
cassette Basic £450 Pilot £45 Microsoft
£40 German £15 Homefile £15. Tel:
01-310 7162 after six. Also other soft-
Marl 400 (guaranteed). Basic, manuals.
£85. Two joysticks, £5. Recorder. E15
Preppie. Baja Buggies and Miner 2049
'cr. £12 each. Must sell. Tel: Hexham
604294
Intarton VC40IK) video computer with
Invaders. Pinball cassettes £50. Also
hand held Invaders Blockbuster two
gcedi £12 \ nqtaim, 15 Ynde
Avenue. RAF Catterick. Richmond. N.
Yorks.
Sharp MZ-8UK 48K. 18 months' old.
includes books, user notes, joystick. and
Epson printer interface. £ I90o.n.o. Tel:
Milton Keynes (0908) 677508.
Swap All my original Atari software (40
games) for an 80 col printer. Tel: Of-998
7851 anytime.
PCN Billboard
Nawhrai* Model AD 32K with built in
display includes computer manual and
beginners tape £200. also Phoenix
20MHz high quality monitor £90. Tel:
01-3379571.
Marl utilities 400800 for sale, plus
Missile Command. Pacman. Star Raid¬
ers. cartridges. Td: 01-998 7851 any
Dragon 32 with tape recorder, printer
lead, nearly new. First offer over £150*
Also Tele writer cassette £40. Td: 01-677
3845 (eves). London SW16.
M k rarita c Cub colour monitor including
leads £270. LVL dual 200K diskdrives
including leads £350 Worldwide ROM
£37, All brand new. Tel: Daventry 3792.
Apple 48K Europlus, colour card, single
disc drive, monitor. Silentvpe printer,
manuals. £800 Tel: Worthing 501378.
C ammaAera <54 database program on
cassette £10. Cheque, postal order or
s.a.c. details: Mr K Hulston. 14 Bispham
Avenue. North Reddish. Stockport.
Cheshire SK56NT
ISIS Vic printer, excellent condition
with box of paper £150 ono. Tel: Alton
(0420) 62620 or Winchester (0962)
68085. ask for Iliya.
Brand new Vic20+ cassette 4 8K RAM 4
joystick + loads of software 4 books.
£160 or newish 4HK Spectrum 4 cash or
printer: 27 Day Drive. Failsworth,
Manchester Tel 061-6884743.
f a c and hand BBC software for sale, over
300 titles priced from one tenth of the
cost. For full list please write to R
Battacharya. 3 Wcnsicy Close. Harpen
den, Herts AL5 1RZ
ZX81-I6K. mint. 4£50 of software. 3D
Defender. Star Trek. Flight Simulation.
Subspacc Striker, etc. £33 Tel: Paul.
021-475 3464 after 6pm except on
Thursdays.
BBC one month old. 1 2/V11 Baste issue 4
board. Excellent condition £385. Disk
interface £85. BBC disk manual and
utilities£25. View £45. All immaculate.
0SI-6646S68
Vie 20 I1.5K. three slot motherboard.
Audiogenic Forth cartridge. £110. Tel:
Bccclcs 715502 after 5pm or weekends
MZ-80K twin disks drives I/O box Epson
printer, interface card. 25 disks. 300
programs: disk toolkit: Word Pro. Zen.
Many extras £850 ono. D.J. Need, 92
Ewhurst Road. Croft on Park. London
SE4.
The overwhelming response to PCN’s Billboard
service is causing delay in publication of some
advertisements. To solve this growing backlog
and to cover some of the publication costs we
are now charging £1.50 for each ad. Every form
received at PCN’s offices, 62 Oxford Street,
London W1A 2HG, must be accompanied by a
postal order or cheque for £1.50 made payable
to VNU Business Publications.
Mari 400 32K. 410 recorder, joystick.
£400 worth of software including Necro¬
mancer. SubCommandcr. Star Raiders.
Zaxon, Astro Chase, all mint. £350. Tel:
0553 64920.
BBC B . six months old. I.2.0S plus books
and Acorasoft Snapper. Monsters.
Meteors. Defender. Arcadians. Rocket
Raid etc £390 ono. Tel: Derby 0382
672897 after 6pm.
Star, MZB0A. 12 months old. immaculate
condition, plus over £100 worth soft¬
ware. worth £600 new. accept £450 ono.
Tel: Derby 0332 672897 after 6pm
H994A penfriend wanted, to swop
programs and tips, send envelope con¬
taining your programs to Paul Midglcy. 7
Carrington Street, Barnsley. S75 2SP.
Tel: (0226) 43046
IBM Vic 20 +C2N cassette ♦ 3K Super
Expander plus 6 cartridges, over 20
cassettes, five books, excellent condi¬
tion. value £600 require £300 (ono). Tel:
01-788 1753 after 5pm
Mam fully expanded. BBC ROM fitted
books, software leads £110. Tel: (090
485) 328. 4 Derwent Close. Elvmgton.
York Y04 SAW.
Aeara Atom I2K RAM I2K ROM.
complete with PSU. leads, manual, two
books, software, newsletters £115 ono.
Tel: 0283 216938evenings
Orie-1 4KK. two months old, four games,
two hooks and two cassette lead Bargain
£130. Tel: 01-554 4897 evenings
hkkr Centronics 739-2 quality printer,
suit most computers, includes BBC-B
boxed with manual, immaculate £290.
Tel: 01-9799102 cvenings/weekcnds
Mlcra power three channel sound add-on
with amplifier, speaker and joystick
ports for ZX-Spectrum £13 Five rolls of
Sinclair printer paper £6. Tel: Esher
62785
A c oruaeW have a Countdown to Doom
cartridge I'll sell or swop for other
Acomsoft programs Special deals can
be arranged. Tel: (0272 ) 683158 (or
details
Mari 400800, 48K RAM board. £65.
Defender, one with instructions. £18.
one without. £12. Harrison. 82 Hey
Street. Spring View. Wigan. WN3 4UJ
Mari 4<Xi 4KK, six months guarantee plus
Basic. Star Raiders and many cassettes,
will accept best offer. Tel: 01 -561 4071
VWa# Genie with hi-res and sound, also
feature ROM. loads of software (inc
assembler and compiler) Worth £550 4.
sell for £300 ono. Tel: Caergwrle (0978)
761347 after 4pm
Sharp MZ-80K 48K RAM extended
Basic, green screen, manual over £100
worthsoftware includes Wizard's Castle.
Space Invaders. Scramble. £295. ono.
Tel: 0522 24508 after 6pm.
Fraa I2K 4 I2K Acorn Atom with leads,
manuals and PSU. plus matched cas¬
sette deck, worth £320 when buying my
Atom Magic book. £175. quick sale. Tel:
(0472) 48534. after 6pm
1BK ZX81 for sale, power pack, leads,
manual, books, over £40 of software
including Mazogs. Chess. Froggcr.
Backgammon, total value over £90.
bargain at onlv £46 Tel: Lea Valley
715650 (evenings)
Wanted Vic Men. Krazy Kong or Gridd-
Runncr Exchange for Arcadia. Frog or
Cosmiads Tel: Wilmslow 524284 be¬
tween 4 30-6 20
hrteMvisieo hardly used. Voice and 14
cartridges £270. might split. Tel: Went¬
worth 4193.
Spectrum software including Hobbit.
Pcnctrator. Ah Diddums. Schizoids.
Arcadia. Timegate. Painter. Orbitcr.
Hungry Horace. Flight Simulation Over
40. Tel: 061-881 3651 (Tony).
Menhrain A with software and beginners'
guide £230. boxed and still under
guarantee. Tel: Bolton 63725.
Vie 20 4 cassette machine, joystick.
£100. voice synthesiser £30. Super Ex¬
pander £25. Sargon II Chess £15. 12
games!Rabbit etc) £30.4 books £8. Td:
Yatcley (0252) 872275
Pat 8K OldROM. excellent condition
with much software and instruction
books. £180, Foster. Tel: Weybridge
(0932) 47472 (evenings)
Spectrum pen friend wanted. If you
would like to exchange programs and
news please write to Paul Phillips, 13
Mountain Road. Conway. Gwynedd,
North Wales
Sharp MZ80K 48K including dust cover,
reset switch, three basics, games, many
trVc Speech synthesiser tape, adven¬
tures. football pools, many more £300.
Tel: 01-337 1393.
Mari 4NK 400 with program recorder,
many books and manuals, over £150
worth of games, only £220. all in as new
condition. (0455)614830.
Mr A Sharp 12 Rainbow Close, Orping¬
ton. Kent Tel: (0689) 39809 Atari 400
16K. program recorder Basic. Jumbo
Jet, Pilot. Star Raiders. Assembler.
Editor De Re Atari 4 lots more
software, manuals etc. £300ono
BBC games for sale, six Acomsoft games
in addition to three others, all nine
programs arc on disk;only£39ono. Ring
Wclton 61076.
Waatad Spectrum in exchange for Fidd-
ity 2000, 40 channel CB with aerial and
power supply, value £130. Tel: Sudburv
(Suffolk) 75344 (evenings)
We 20. cassette. software. JcUymonsIcrs.
4K RAM. joystick. Vic Revealed and
much more. £1200 ono for quick sale
Tel: Luton 34889 after 6pm or wee kends.
Lynx 4SK. three months old. good
condition. £190 ono including p&p
Write: Tony S. No 9. Thorndiffe
Roaad. Sumihcrtown. Oxford, for furth¬
er de tail*.
ZXB1 IK with manual and leads, five
months old. excellent condition. £25.
Plus Asteroids. Gulp. Monstcrmaze
(16K) £9. Tel: Winchester (0962) 63259
(evenings)
ZXB1 416K RAM plus leads, manual etc
and software. good condition sc II for £45.
Tel: (0634) 220411. Ashley .Town Road.
Cliffc Woods. Rochester. Kent
Epson MX to Apple II printer interface
card unused and boxed £45. Td: 01-501
1342.
Atari MXV400 games on cassette. Za s son,
Astro Chase. Preppie. Hazard Run,
Ghost Hunter. Cross Fire, and others. 11
for £40. £5 each. Tel: 0734 67651
S pa ch um 4*K 4 23 games tapes, shop
value £287.85. quick sale for £140 Tel:
0638 665812 evenings or write to H
Houghton. 3 Warren Towers. Moulton
Road. Newmarket. Suffolk
Atari VCS £60 including two games
additional cartndgcs£l I each Atari 400
Pacman brand new. unused £24. Tel:
01-6226073
BSC Model B. disc interface. Canon
Drive, utilities and games software,
manuals, and leads best offer, may split
Preslcl 01-373 0599 evenings and
weekends.
Acorn Atom I2K RAM I2K ROM all
plugs and sockets, fully expanded. £60.
Boorth software, two books, almost new
£195 ono. Tel: Walerlooville 54420
100 Pci games including Chess, Star
Trek. The Valley and Breakout, only
£10. Tel: Southend (0702) 588601 after
ZXS1 and Spectrum tapes half price.
(0272) 851337. Texas TI99/4A complete
wit h cables and joysticks and tapes £125.
(0272)851337 Naitvca
Lean to play good chess with my
immaculate Acctronic Chess Computer
with dust cover, mains adaptor, board,
pieces neatly integrated inlodesign. £30.
Tel: 0234 216215.
PCN JULY 28-AUGUST 3.1983
79
PCN Billboard
Tanhug VI.2listing wanted John Hey.10
Boacombe Avenue. Barton. Ecclcs.
Manchester
ZX80 hooks. 30 Programs. Magic Book.
HintsTips. Pocket Book, Companion,
excellent condition. Bargain. all five only
£10+ Borland. 51 Lovell Gardens.
Walton. Norfolk.
UK101 sk RAM. 32/48 screen. 300/600
Baud. Cegmon. RS-232. Built into metal
ease, adventure games. Space Invaders,
etc. Allfor £90. Tel: 0454 613416.
Disk drive, Siemens FDD-120. Nm SS
SD/DD, good condition, with OEM
manual. I9in ease. CP M manual, all
£110 Please phone(M546l34l6(Bristol
We 28, I6K RAM pack. C2N cassette
deck, joystick, Boxed, cheap. £135 ono.
Road Race cartridge. Chess, Traxx.
Vicmcn. Star Wars. £30. Tel: 0734
785130. you collect, near Reading
Far salt: Atari 40U/800. Centipede car¬
tridge . £20 or will swop (or Asteroids or
Gorf cartridge. 10 Lawton Street. Rook¬
ery. Nr Kidsgrovc. Stoke-on-Trent.
Staffs
VMea tienic 16K with integral cassette,
manuals and leads included, best offer
over £150 secures, some games to sell
separately. (Asteroids. Cialaxian). Tel:
031-661 1417
Computer wanted in exchange for my
audmlmc 40 eh CB. power pack. SWR.
meter, twig and cable. C Anderson. 167
Malcolm Way. Knighlsbndgc. Living¬
ston. West UMhian EII54 KLW
Atari computer game with eight games
and Both joystick and paddle controllers.
£l(li ono. bnlv four months old. Tel:
Borough Green (0732188-4303
Fuller used keyboard for ZX8I, £18.
Panda I6K expandaMe RAM for ZX8I.
£15. selection of IK and I6K tapes,
books, magazines etc Tel: Cambridge
(0223)871276cvcnings. "
Wanted: ZX8I. will pay up to £25 for IK
or £35 for I6K. Tel: Kidderminster
744956 evenings
Pat 32K large keyboard, new ROM. with
dual disk drives, and printer. Toolkit.
Superchip, manuals, leads included,
ideal for small business or personal use.
£ 1.100. Tel: Windsor 58472 evenings
We 20 k.ii Race and COmtiadi in
exchange fix Gorf. Star Battle. Adven-
turland or Chopliflcr cartridges. Cos-
miads cassette for Bonzo or Skyhawk
Tel: Goolc (0405) 4047 after 5pm
Nwcoai I with 48K. Hobbit microcassct-
tc drive, /.cap in l-prom. graphics.
Nas-Sys. F.prom Programmer, nicely
boxed. lots of documentation and maga¬
zines. £325 - might haggle! Tel: 0625
72988 after 6pm
Wanted BBC B Com 64 unwanted Pet or
Sharp MZ-8II will pay £285 + . Tel:
Brcdiland 4356 or write. Syd Mccancc.
17 Mciklcnggs Drive. Paisley PA29JN
CS freak turned vicro freak, must raise
necessary cash for a Spectrum, will sell
120 channel Home Base (including all
extras), in excellent condition. £90 ono.
D Kelly. PO Box 109. Rathcolc. Co.
Dublin. Eire
ZXS1 Ihkbmanuats and Books. Icadsand
transformer, good condition Games:
Flight Simulation. 3D. Monster Maze,
bargain at £40. Tel: Brookwood 2817
Oracwi 32K. three months old. used
once, also cassette player and manuals,
everything boxed, cost £230, will accept
£170 ono. Bargain- Tel: 01-4289840. ask
for Sailesh
We 20 Super Expander cartridge. £25
ono Tel: 01-8086450
Mari VCS with 22 cartridges, cost over
£675. genuine Bargain at £230 Ajmel. 7
Holly Road. Northampton NNI 401..
ZX81 Ink six manuals and hooks, leads
and transformer, good condition
Games: Flight Simulation. 3D. Monster
Maze. Bargain at £40 Tel: Brookwood
2817 (Surrey).
Tandy Colour Computer, large selection
of software, ready to swop? South
BenHeel 4965
Pat 2001 Ms integral cassette program¬
mes. toolkit manuals. Chess. Backgam¬
mon. Tuition and other tapes Excellent
condition. £250 Tel: 01-3008702
Mari Mil) 32K plus program recorder,
joysticks, manuals and various games,
worth £800+. sell for £450 ono Tel:
Stevenage (0438) 723998
Camas: Spectrum Hobbit. £8: Spectrum
Pi mama. £6; Atari Star Raiders. £15
Tel: 041-427 1460
We 20 C2N. joystick and lotsof mags .sell
£150. six months old. Tel: Cwmbran
(06333)64828
Spectrum software including Hobbit.
Penetrator. AhDiddums. Schroids.
Arcadia. Timegate, Painter. Orbitcr.
Hungry Horace. Flight Simulation. Over
40 Tony 061-881 3651
Spectrum I8K + 23 games tapes, shop
value £287.85, quick sale for £140 0638
665812 evenings or write to B Hough¬
ton. Warren Towers. Moulton Road.
Newmarket. Suffolk.
Atari VCS £60 including two games,
additional cartridges £ 11 each. Atari 41X1
Pacman. brand new. unused £24.01-622
6073.
B8C Model B. disk interface. Canon
drive, utilities and games software,
manuals and leads, best offer, may split
Prcstcl 01-373 0599 evenings and
weekends.
WMted Vic Men. Krazy Kong or Gridd-
Runner Exchange for Arcadia. Frog or
Cosmiads Wilmskiw 524284 between
4.30-6.20.
Aeon Atom I2K RAM I2K ROM all
plugs and sockets, fully expanded. £60
worth software, two books almost new
£195ono. Watcrloovillc 54420.
32N Vic 20m. expandable to 40 columns
(£10) + C2N drive + Super Expander +
Intro Basic I ♦ II ♦ joystick + cover +
magazines + £50 software worth £335.
Accept £200 or swap for Lynx 48 0254
37959 Lancashire, ask for Paul (After
5pm). Buyer collects.
100 Pet games including Chess. Star
Trek, The Valiev and Breakout, only
£10 Southend (0702) 588601 after 5pm
ZX01 and Spectrum tapes half price
Texas TI99/4A complete with cables and
joysticks and tapes £125. Nailsca (0272)
851337.
Imbue vi.2. listing wanted. John llcy.
10 Boscomhc Avenue. Barton. Ecclcs.
Manchester
ZXOO books. 30 Programs. Magic Book.
HintsTips. Pocket Book. Companion,
excellent condition. bargain. all Five only
£10+. Borland. 51 Lovell Gardens.
Walton. Norfolk
UK101 8k RAM 3248 screen. VX16IXI
haud. Cegmon. RS-232. built into metal
ease, adventure games. Space Invaders,
etc All for £90.0454 613416
Disk Drive, Siemens FDD-120. Km SS
SD/DD. good condition, with OEM
manual. I9in ease. CP/M manual, all
£110. please phone (M54 613416 (Bristol
Laarn to play good chess with my
immaculate Acctronic Chess Computer
with dust cover, mains adaptor, (ward,
pieces neatly integrated into design. £30.
0234 216215
Wda*Genie with Hi-Res and sound, also
feature ROM. loads of software (me
assembler and compiler) Worth £550+.
sell for £300 ono Caergwrie (0978)
761347 after 4pm
Sharp M/.-koK 48K RAM Extended
Basic, green screen, manual, over £100
worth software, includes Wizard's Cas¬
tle . Space Invaders.Scramble. £295ono.
(0522) 24508 after 6pm
Sharp 1*6 printer, friction tractor, inter¬
face. cable, manuals £350. Reading
584497 Winbow. 102 Sherwood Street.
Reading. Berks
Spactrwii educational software for sale,
for infants and juniors, five stimulating
games for £4.95. used once only M
Bristow. In-Vid-Ria. Route Charles.
SPP. Guernsey. Channel Isles, require
immediate sale
ZXS1 Gateway Guide book by Mark
Charlton. £3 All 12 PCNs 50p each
Other weeklies any offers? Write J
Allen. 1 Kingsfield Close. Bradford-on-
Avon. Wiltshire
Wanted I6K. ZX8I home computer plus
cassettes, exchange Acctronic video
games with three cassettes plus handheld
Arcade Defender with everything in¬
cluding game speed contrail. 2 Recrea¬
tion Road. Southall. Middlesex UB2
5PE.
Wanted: Vic20 Super Expander cart¬
ridge. will swop Wacky Waiters. Multi¬
sound synthesiser. Amok. Space
Phrccks and Blitz Cassettes for the
Cartridge. Dungannon (08687) 25324
Wanted lor ZX81 a suitable tape recorder
for under £20ono. Rugby77H35 after 5.
M I cmplemum
Spactnrai software, swop Penetrator.
Mincd-out OB Ltd. Mastcrfilc. Time-
gale etc. For Trader. Terror Dartik.
Vu3D. Warlord. Diclor and other high
quality 48K games. MichaelOl-34026.30
Aenra Atom. I2K RAM + 24K ROM. 5
amp PSU. all connectors and buffers,
lots of software. £175. BBC conversion
hoard. £30.01-4224573.
Spactnm, 50 games for sale, only £5 or
swap for Penetrator. Gobble -A- Ghost
or Orbitcr (original tapes only ) Din-
mngton 568580 after 4.30pm
Tuscan 5100KK ROM Basic64K RAM.
card with 32K CMOS RAM. stereo
sound card. cent ronic RS232 ports. £299
L'pminstcr 24145 after 6pm
Acnm Atom I2K + I2K with F P. all
leads and mams adaptor, some games
and books. £120 190 Thornhill. Ras-
trick. Brighousc 0484 717476 Philip
Ambler.
PtiMpa G 70(81 as new including instruc¬
tion book and five games cartridge.
Pacman. Laser War. Space Monster.
Billiards. £100 the lot Hanson. 47
Quinton Road. Sittingboume. Kent
ME 10 2DB
Dr agon 32 .md Tandy Colour Computer
Copycat. This program copies machine
code tapes, send £3 and sac for a listing
Richard Hunter. I Great Park. Park
Close. Southwell. Notts NG250EE
168 ZX8I. magazines, four tapes worth
£90. sell £55 (good condition). Ilavwards
Heath (0444) 451381 after 4pm
Dragan 31 software. Wizard War and
Dragon Trek £IOca. also program pack
2 and Dragon selection £10. all as new
Sheffield 0742 550326.
Swap Spectrum software please Leigh
(0942) 678129 weekends
Atari 400 software, lour Atari games
including. Star Raiders. £20 each, also
Cry pts of Terror (graphic adventure) £ 10
— £80 the lot 0484 29182.
Spnctnmi I6K games - Mender (£6.50)
Gulpiyan (£3). Space Raiders (£3).
Artie. Microchess (£5). or £16 (or all
(cost over £26) Kers. Coventry 4699
Wanted BBC (B) circuit diagrams also
BBC (B) disc interface fitting instruc¬
tions Original or photostat copies Will
pav £5 each Idris 0384 6434.. (day):
021-773 2869 (Evenings)
Spectrum software to sell or swop for
other software: 3D Tunnel. GB Ltd.
Hungry Horace. Horace Goes Skiing.
Timegate. Nilcflighl. Penetrator 0279
36274.
B8C dual disc drive. Canon MD220
80-track D sided HOOK with 4080 track
switches and BBC cable. Cased with
power supply, brand new, bought in
error. £625. 051-644 6568. Disk and
manual included.
ZX81 I6K. Filcsixty keyboard video
invert (Switchablc). keyboard beep,
keyboard repeat (Switchablc). software:
Vu-File. Fast One. 3D Maze. City
Patrol. 30 hr-Basic book, executive ease.
Davis 01-883 7286
Why wait? Buy my 48K Otic-1 micro,
including lots of quality software, only
two months old. sell for £150 ono.
66-72793 or 01-633 3771.
BDCModcIB. IIX1K disc drive.CRTH0A
cassette recorder. 10-inch B Wmonitor,
joysticks, software on disc. tape. +
books.£700 NewentC.los<0531 )82I634
evenings.
Atari VCS including 16 cartridges, open
to offers over £280. 01-593 7700 after
4pm weekdavs or weekends Ask for
Rod
Artea expansion unit for Vic20 Make
your computer into a real system, seven
slots for cartridges, memory, aids, etc.
absolute bargain at £50 as new Havant
486748.
Atari Video Computer System with
Dodgems. Maze Craze. Asteroids.
Haunted House. Indy 500 (+ Control¬
ler) All worth over £250. will sell for
f 125. (0202) 707840
Caste FX602P Alphanumeric pro¬
grammable calculator with FA2 cassette
adaptor and programs including Flight
Simulator and music, cost £95. asking
£70 ono Mildcnhall (0638) 713933.
Frua I2K + 12K Acorn Atom with leads,
manuals and PSU. plus matched cassette
deck worth £320 when buying mv Atom
Magic Book £175. quick sale (0472)
48531. after 6pm
168 2X81 lor sale, power pack, leads,
manual, hooks, over £40 of software
including Mazogs. Chess. Frogger.
Backgammon, total value over £90.
bargain at only £46. Lea Valley 715650
(evenings).
Sharp MZH0K with lots of software for
sale. All you need for £265. also Atari
VCS with five boxed games. £ 120. (0202)
707840.
Sinclair ZX Spectrum Ink. as new.
together with Special Invaders and
Meteroids. offers around £75. 01-954
8753.
Wanted. I6K.ZX8I with a couple of
games for £40 Selling Tandy TV game.
88 game variations lor £15 bargain 7
Gladstone Terrace. Whitlev Bav. Tyne
and Wear. NE26 2EH, ask for Paul
kcllv
Acctronic video game with Invaders.
Maze Craze. Air Sea Battle. Planet.
Defender and Olympics, only £50 ono.
For quick sale. Ashton-m Mukcrficld
726456.
Wanted VTc2l) cartridge programs, only
adventures needed, with instructions
please Reasonable prices paid, includ¬
ing postage 021-554 8624 after 4pm. ask
for Manjit
Atari VCS as new with seven cartridges
including Pacman. unique American
Spaccchasc and new Star Raiders, all
boxed as new. genuine reason for sale,
only £100! Leeds 400821
VK20 Computer, lew months old. in
excellent condition, plus 3K RAM
cartridge, virtually unused. Also the
book Vic Revealed and owner’s manual
Only £118 MaecIcsTield 24060.
VIC28 The Count. swop or sell. £17. also
Alien Blitz £5 Rochdale 44003
18KZX81 computer. 4K graphics ROM.
keyboard, sound board, games worth
over £200. lor sale for £85. Gl Yarmouth
48K Spectrum, printer, joystick ampli¬
fier, £20 worth of printer paper. software
and books worth £ 100. cost me £400. cost
you £200. good condition. (U872S5)
2842.
80
PCN JULY 28-AUGUST 3.1983
Far tala video genu* (Model I). includes
£60 of software. colour board. sound unit
(not fined) and computer books. tlhO
ono. Bkvxwich 406386
Acrirteic MPU VCS Muricai Games,
cartridge only, £8, ono. Complete Ace-
Ironic VCS system with Invaders. Laser
Blasts. Super Knockout and above. £75
ono Borland. 51 Lovell Gardens. Wal¬
ton. Norfolk IP25 6CX.
Atari VCS cartridges. Activision
Kaboom. Fishing Derby. £12. Dragster.
£10. Circus. Outlaw. Miniature Golf.
Adventure. Human Cannonball. Bas¬
ketball. Basic Programming. Basic
Maths. Boxing. £10 each Borland. 51
Lovell Gardens. Walton. Norfolk IP25
6ZX.
Sharp PC1500 pocket computer with 4K
RAM plus printer cassette interface.
Cost £350, sell £225. Newmarket (Ub3K)
665812evenings. Mr Houghton. Warren
Towers. Moulton Road. Newmarket,
sutu.a
Or aeon 32K with manual Dragon toy-
sticks. Tanoy tape recorder (with leads)
and £30 wort h of sof tw arc Wort h approx
£300. will sell for £250. Ingatestone
353524 after 4pm
BBC ModB with joysticks. £fi(IO of
software. assembly language hook and
many magazines, will accept £4M).
negotiable 01-833 1440quickly'
Swap Savage Sword Conan Nos 1-7
(rare!) plus M l Mad Magazines (mint) lor
ZX8I P Moltram. 13 St John's Grove.
Hull. Humberside
Wanted/X Spectrum lb or 48K. must he
in good condition. w ill pay up to £80 max.
(0384)277140
16M ZXKI. printer and lour cassettes of
m> ft w.irev £85 ono. 1151 -924 6473
Atari Ht)0 4KK plus cassette, joysticks.
£150 worth of software plus lots of
magazines, only £350.01-2513709. after
5 30pm.
Unwanted Spectrum ZXKI software.
Transylvanian Tower 3D adventure for
Spectrum 48K £4. Mad Martha Spec¬
trum £4. ZXKI Kong £3. unused, sac A
Fletcher. 11/4-27 Casllchay Drive. Mil¬
ton. Glasgow. G22 71J
Common!oc» M brand new. used once,
two months old with direct cassette unit
and software tape, value over £4UI.
accept £299 ono. 01-570 8517 after
5.30pm
IS* RAM pack for ZX8I £6.50. IbK
Galaxians. Fun to Learn inventions.
History, super programs series 3. 4. 10
games. All £10 Stockton 602936
TRS-80 IbK I 2 good condition, plus H W
TV and CTR-8IIA recorder, all leads,
manuals hooks and loads of programs
included. Price wanted only £390 ono.
(Watford) 31421.
Atari VCS. 20 cartridges, new joysticks
for sale or swop. Write loG Keenan.61
Glcnfinnan Road. Glasgow G20 KJG
with offer (nocallers please).
ZXBO, rare chance to acquire Sinclair s
first! Perfect working order, boxed,
mams adaptor and booklet included
Cos! £100. Any reasonable offers!
Emsworth 4541.
ZXB1 IbK. File 60 keyboard ♦ £40 of
softw are + mags , sell for £66 or nearest
offer (Mcdway)0634 366332.
Wanted, software on the new colour
Genie Please send a list of what you have
and want to sell to Steven Prior. 30
Coldootcs Avenue. Leeds LS96NB
Wanted, CBM 803296. plus 8050 drives,
plus any extras. Must be in good working
condition. 01-3X5 2469
Taxa*,TI994A computer, plus joysticks,
cassette lead, three games, clc. £120.
Two months' old. (Glasgow) 041-8X3
1522 after 6pm
Wanted, Sew Brain Model A. 03305 269
(evenings).
Dragon 32 computer. £300 of software
manuals and joysticks, etc. Games
include Dragon Trek. Donkey King and
more. Sale for £250. Sunhury on
Thames. Middx X3156
PCN Billboard
Pimama etc £45. Also Black Crystal
adventure for 48K Spectrum £4 or swop.
Barford 624574.
Sbarg VIZ SDK plus software, swop for
Spectrum with printer and software or
BBC A B or something similar Poole
(02(G) 707840
Osborne 1 micro CPM based single
density with Wordstar. Supcrcak. Basic
and Software worth over £800. will
accept the best reasonable offer, hut
don't call with silly offers. Reading
(0734)744303.
Sharp MZkoK. ideal for small business or
home, integral screen and cassette with
games and manual. £325. All ready to
start Poole (0202) 707840
vic-20 i s player Manua l. 35
programs, all cables, worth £200: £130
ono (including p*p + insurance), all
boxed. Glcnhoig874204 after 5pm.
Bargain — Acctronic Chess Computer +
mains adaptor, hardlv used, eight levels
of skill Bedford (0234) 216215
488 Spectrum printer. £20 of paper,
amplifier, joysticks, software and books
worth £100. cost me £400. cost you £200.
good condition. (OK7255)2842wcckdays
after 4.30pm.
Srihatlia GPKI0A printer, as new. suit¬
able BBC. Oric. Dragon etc. with
centronics interface. £175 ono. Tnng.
He rt sf04 42821 5443 (evenings)
16* ZX81 wiih manual and leads, also
Osavc (fast load, save device. IbK in 30
seconds), plus three hooks and over £50
worth of software (chess, assembler,
games). £65 ono. (0942) 53022.
Cmm dor* Pet 2001. KK. Basic 3 integral
cassette and VDU, including Invaders.
Golf. Database. £250. Weston-super-
Mare 0934 24856.
Exchange: I Men 3in reflector telescope.
7Illlmm. three eyepieces, zoom lens for
land use. full size tripod ♦ sun filter. For:
Vic-20 or 48K Spectrum Michael. 5
Hallon Drive. Shircmoor. Ncwcastlc
upon Tyne NE27 USG.
Loads of Spectrum software including
Hobbit. Pcnclralor. Arcadia. Time-gate.
Cruising. VU 3D. Ah Diddums. clc. clc.
over 40 altogether, very cheap, first
caller. £10. Tony 061-881 3651.
Wanted printer to suit unexpanded
TRS80 Ml Lll. 29 Slcncilh Road.
Walsall. West Midlands Walsall 27371
Atari Missile Command and Star Raiders
cartridges plus other games, will sell or
swop other games. Also wanted. Atari
diskdrive Rochdale(0706)59602
ZXS11SK - software worth £110. buyer
collects. 13 games, sell £55 Mark
Hudson. Eden Rise. Prospect Fields.
Robin Hood Bay. Whitby. North York-
Atari games, sell or swop, all on cassettes.
C. Climber. Zaxxon. Galactic Chase.
Airstrike. Ghost Hunter and more.
01-203 4545. Call after 4pm
Commodan machine code monitor car¬
tridge. use with Vic-20, still boxed with
manual, only £15 Bude 102881 2889
Vte-20 cassette deck, super expander,
joystick. 3K RAM expansion, toolkit,
machine code monitor, hooksand games
cartridges, all half price. £200. Fleet
20587
IntefIMsIoa .nd voice, fisc games. Space
Spar urns. Lock and Chase. Space Battle.
Triple Action. Blackjack. £120. Mr
Webber. II Coronation Villas.
Beaumont. Clacton. Essex COI60AR
Tnan TI-9W4A computer + leads and
manuals, two weeks old. £90. Write loS
Snell. 47 Fane Road. Walton. Peterbor¬
ough Peterborough 75291
Commodora ('2N cassette unit with coun¬
ter. unused. £30. (0279) 504844 (even¬
ings)
VldM Genie. one with cassette and green
screen VDU. £70 worth of software and
all manuals, all for £130. Wcslhurv
8652211
16* ZXS1, learning lab. atound 5(IK of
top quality software including Flight
Simulation and Frogger. worth £120.
selling for £55 Ian. Pcnkridgc 3378.
Shat* MZ80K 48K. manual, software,
database. VAT accounts, good condi¬
tion. delivery organised, price £220.
Jaram IM82 847069 after 6pm
Swop! My ZX8I (IbK) plus £60 worth .4
software, magazines and boohs (includ¬
ing machine code tutor) (or your Jupiter
Ace. 021-472 7778.
ZX81 • 16K RAM five monthvold. soil
boxed. Variouv volt ware books and
magazines, accept £50. Norwich 403613
(evenings).
Spectrvix 1 r-K. Spectral Invaders. Cos¬
mos. Orbitcr (Defender), over the
Spectrum cassette one Will veil £3 each
or £12 lot 01-597 1470 after 5pm
Intetlmsion. four months' old. hardly
used plus five games. £180 for the lot. sell
to buy BBC (B) Micro. 01-889 9822
during evenings
Sinclair ZX8I IK personal computer,
five months old. with power supply,
manual, etc. £30 Also high resolution
graphics for I6K ZX8I. £30 (0909)
564424
Wanted BBC model A or B. software
optional, any operating system, price
negotiable up to £2X1 according to
accessories, leads and manual unncccv
ary York (0904) 32762 after 6pm
Wanted Super Evpander for Vic-20, must
be in good and working condition, will
pay £15. all offers less than £20. Contact
Donald. (MSI 5239after 5pm
Wanted BBC model A in good condition
and inside guarantee, will pay £200 and
also any delivery rales Ask for Mark.
I aid.lt (11222)60022.
V«-20 joystick. £5. Vic Revealed. £5.
Alien cartridge. £10. also BBC Castle of
Riddles. £5 All boxed as new Offers
considered Ashton-in-Makcrficld
720984 after 6pm
Vie 28 computer, cassette deck. Forth
and Avenger cartridges, joystick, books,
games, clc. £180 Ruislip 35173
BBC software. swop Acornsoft. Program
Power. Bug Byte. AAF clc. for other
programs, call Ron. Tel 01-833 1440
Vie 20 Super Expander, will swop lor
machine code monitor or sell £25.
Stephen. Tel (0908) 604755 after 4pm
Acrimic C hess Computer + mains
adaptor, less than ten hours usage, still
boxed, eight levels skill. £30 or swop for
ZXKI Bedford (0234) 216215.
0rie-l 48K computer link- used, com¬
plete as supplied, bargain only £l45ono.
Borland. 51 Lovell Gardens. Walton.
Norfolk IP256TX
BBC official joysticks for safe £9 ono
Also BBC software to sell or swop,
including Acornsofl and Program Pow¬
er 01 -808 8906 after 6pm
BBC software to swop. Micro power.
Acornsoft. A4F and many more pro¬
grams for the BBC. 0232 238373. after
3 30pm
Atari 410800. Submarine Commander
£20 or swop lor Tricky Tutorials or
Eastern Front. 0343 44695 after 6pm
Wanted battery backed RAM for Sharp
PCI50 (CEI5H). Reasonable offers
please Binysh. 26 Fcrnleigh Rd. Win
eh more Hill. London N2I 3AL.
Commodora -lock control program. 32K
3000 senes Pet plus disk aand printer
required. Surplus original program £100
ono. Lambert. Tel (0442) 45239.
' READERS’BUY&SELLFORM ;
Billboard is POSTs micro marketplace. Whether you are buying, selling, or swopping secondhand
goods, just fill in (he form up to a maximum of 24 words, including your name. address or full telephone *
number and send it with a cheque or postal order for £ 1.50 payable to VNU Business Publications. I
. to Billboard. Personal Computer News, 62 Oxford Street, London W1A 2HG. But remember, this j
' service is not for commercial advertisements; we will not include ads from companies large or
| small, or from anyone carrying on a profit-making business. Also, we cannot guarantee to place ads
in specific issues — it's first come, first served. No reprints either unless you send in another form. I
' Please write clearly putting only one word in each box. and remember to include your full address
and telephone number, even if you don't want them in the ad.
PCN JULY 28-AUGUST 3.1983
C8M8U32 computer and
Nif*2 disk drive, excellent condition
manuals, connectors, all included price
£2.500+. selling £1.600. VJ. 021-356
6363 evenings, swop for BBC-B.
Texas Silent 700 thermal keyboard prin¬
ter. 5V«in (loppy disk drive, (both plug
into each other, hut require interface
connectors for other hardware) £100.
051-928 8020
Mari Pilot Educator (CX405) mint £50
Atari Conversational German £25. 01-
310 7162 after 6pm
GoNM lypcrwritcr printer with senal
interface (135 baud — 15 cps) Z80
software and baud rate generator for
Nascom available £190 ono. Mike
01-874 6244
Wanted Dragon 32. I've managed to save
about £120. can you help? Tel Eaton
Bray 220258.
fte new. Tandy TRS-80 Colour Compu¬
ter 16K. with leads and cassette recorder,
four months ok) £200. might split.
Hedges Cranford. Salisbury Rd, Shcr-
ficld English. Romscy. Hants
Vlc20 sk RAM two months old £25 ono
Derby 810239 before 6.30m or 810643
after
Stariord I2SI players, make diplomatic
contact, join Alliance'’ Non-players
requiring information about this play-
hy-mail game. (SSAE). P Moreland.
Basement Flat C. 4 Hcdgegatc. Powts
Terrace. London Wl 1
Wanted High! Simulation programs for
Spectrum I6K48K. also books or other
cassettes, cash via Eurocheque or inter
Post Order. W Brady. Laan Dcr Veren.
Nalics 3 4334ES Middclburg. Neder-
Wanted Vic 20cartridge games. Sargon II
Chess. Adventure and arcade. Also
wanted C2N cassette unit m good order
01-789 1519. ask for Bob or leave phone
number.
T«aa T199 4A owner will buy used
games: arcade type; flight simulator,
space games, must have good graphics,
sound, send info to Mr Cooke. 46 Hooks
Lane. Thorngumbald. Hull HU129PZ.
ACM* Atom 16k ROM 12k RAM with
utility monitor ROM floating point
ROM plus books, manuals and over £60
software, tapes £160 ono, Dave (0788)
812940. evenings only.
Database TV game and six cartridges
including Space Invaders. Road Race
and Space Baltic, colour and sound,
joysticks and adaptor, all for £4$ ono.
01-6752701
team Atom l/2MHz, I2K RAM I2K
ROM 6522 and FP ROM printer inter¬
face. all manuals and leads, software
includes Frogger. Galaxians. Pacman,
Invaders. Space Panic. Defender.
Zodiac, will sell £100. (0487) 841064.
team Atom. I2K ROM I2K RAM
includes, manual, new power pack, all
leads games hooks, all for only £99.
Manch ester 061-428 2769.
TBS80 software Visicak. Quick pro*
program generator, word processor,
budget management, memory informa¬
tion. ncwDOS+ Basic, pools systems,
disk cassette s u e list 104 Ashurst
Road. Cockfostcrs. Barnet. Herts. 01-
TRSaO Level II 48K dual disks cassette
RS232 lower ease, manuals, monitor
plus software Vtskalc Ouikpro+
New DOS + etc. worth over £2.000 £950
ono 01-449 2909
Mari VC’S with joysticks. paddles etc.
and Combat. Space War and Dishing
Derby Bargain at £90. (09654) 3317.
(after 5pm I
BSC Modcl-B utilities: link-editing, con¬
solidation with subroutine libraries;
Basic virtual memory allowing unlimited
program sizes; etc. Disc-based. Basic-2.
£17.50. C Gouyon. 51 Codenham
Straight. Basildon. Essex SSI6 5DJ
B8C software, swop Acornsoft Salaman¬
der. Program Power. A&F. and many
more, call Ezra 01-458 6440 evenings
PCN Billboard
TexasT199 4. hardly used. still with box.
ideal for learning on. with comprehen¬
sive Icaners manual Wrexham 758653
(evenings)
Aeon Atom 12K RAM. I2K ROM. tool
box ROM books, listing approx. 20
programs on tape, power supply and
leads.£170ono Oxtcd48l9
Vk-20 with cassette unit. Atari joystick
and over £50 worth of games software,
would cost over £220. will sell for £160.
Hassocks 3857. after 4 30pm
m Apple 2 32K. disk and cassette
interfaces, fully Apple compatible,
assorted software and manuals, recently
serviced, sadly it must go so only £280.
Ian Harrison. Uanberis (Wales).
872295.
Acam Atom 12K ROM I2K RAM PSL'.
leads. Magic Book + £50 worth of
software me GalaxiaS. Star-Trek. 747
Space Panic. Scramble etc. £120. Derby
(0332)514033.
168 ZXI 1 with quality eased keyboard,
large software library. six books, compil¬
er and assembler, worth over £200. will
accept first offer over £»D. 0326 312463.
Wanted Vic 20. willing to pav up to £100.
£120 with cassette deck. 051-428 5169;
161 Grange Lane. Gatterre L25 5DY.
England. 4 30
0ric-l 48K as new. two months old plus
mind games, graphics demo progs. £120
ono. 047 553 368.
Atari VerS. 20 cartridges, new joysticks
and cartridge rack, cost £600-*. sell for
£2(1) (will not split), or will exchange for
Atari 800 48K 041-9469110.
ONvnW Praxis 35 electronic daisy wheel
typewriter, this is not fined with inter¬
face. still under guarantee £210 ono. 1.
Parish. 2 Collycrs Close, Darlington. Co
Durham DL22ES (lettersonly).
Stuff MZ-P5 printer as new £210 or
nearest. 1 Parish, 2 Collycrs Close.
Hurworth. Darlington. Co Durham DL2
2ES. letters only please
Wanted. Dragon 32K computer plus
joysticks Harlow (0299) 415409 after
6m. ask for Michael
Printer ICL KSR RS232 300 baud, full
ASCI 1 set. tractor feed, upper and lower
case. 120 column typewriter, quality
print, ideal for word processing. £175.
0252 877174.
ZXS 1 16k with manual, leads and three
tapes. Defender. Monster Maze. Raid¬
ers. Good condition. £65 ono must sell!
01-4028551 evenings
We M games Ratracc. Super Lander.
Chess £10 each. Kosmk-kamikaze.
Space Panic. Back Gammon. £4 each;
send sac to T. Canncll. 14 Parkstonc
Avc. Bristol BS7 0BY Don't mis* this
amazing offer!
Spectrum RA M pack (32k) for sale (issue
one only) £15. also some software.
Richard. Tel 01-622 3870after 8pm
Wanted; Pel 2001 for Spectrum 16K.
cassette deck, (both new) and games
book, Southampton (0703) 556823
(eves).
Atari VCS with extra paddfcs and
keyboard controllers, complete with
Combat. Asteroids. Road-Race.
Adventure Air-Sea Baltic and Basic. will
swop for Lynx 48k or Dragon 32.01-373
5221
18-ZX81 £35. keyboard + ease £30.
I/O port £5. books £2 each, software
1K-£1.50. l6k-£2 50, or swop all for
Atari 822 printer. 01-584 1151.
Sinclair 16k ZX81. complete with all
leads and manuals etc. plus one book,
cost £100+. quick sale for £45. ono.
Oxford (0865) 772542
Sharp MZKOk 13 months old. integral
screen and tape, instruction manual and
some tapes. £250. Formby 07048 75063
after 5pm
ZM116k, professional keyboard. Prog¬
rams including Mazogs. Trader. Chess.
Flight Simulation and many more Seven
ZX magazines, all worth £180, selling for
£80. Tel: 01-254 5952 (evenings)
Acorn Atom 12k RAM. 12k floating
point ROM + Ross Eprom with 33 extra
commands, also includes £70 worth of
top quality software, price £140. Wol¬
verhampton 700739.
Atari VCS with Combat. Space Invaders.
Asteroids. Indx 500 cartridges, joys¬
ticks, paddles included. £100. Belfast
703036 (Northern Ireland, after 4.30pm
on weekdays only).
Atari games on cassette for sale or swop
021 •520871 7 (early eve nmgs if possi blc )
Atari VCS plus 14 cartridges with joys¬
ticks and paddles. £120 ono. will not
split Ruishp 37284
Atari, swop Zaxxon. Protector. Astro
Chase. Prcppie, Air Strike. Sea Dragon
for Miner 2049ER. Chopliftcr Shamus.
Apple Panic. Offers 051-2208927
Atari 400 16K. 410 recorder, both under
guarantee. Basic plus manuals, joys¬
ticks. Star Raiders. Prcppie. Airstrike
and membership of software library.
£225 Highetiffe (04252) 72271.
Atari 4110 Basic assembler and Star
Raiders cartridges. 410 program recor¬
ders. joystick. £195, perfect condition.
027588 5040.
Wanted Alan 810 disk dnve. and 48K
RAM module, please write to Gary
Tinsley. 6 BradwaH Road. Sandbach.
Cheshire CW11 9AB slating price etc
Atari 400 cassette recorder and £250
worth of software including Pacman.
Star Raiders and Missile Command
Whole system worth over £500. will
accept £375. Buyer collects. Dunstable
602617 (weekday evenings).
Atari software to swop or sell, various
cassettes and cartridges, all perfect
condition. Mcthcringham 0526 21187
(after 6pm)
Wanted Atari computer 400. swop Mur¬
ray CBH1500 plus SWA Meter Coxel
Cable. Mike. Aerial 7ft. Also want Atari
cassettes. 01-267 5295.
Atari 400 games for sale. Empire of the
Overmind. Airstrike. Savage Island!.
£10 ci
new Rock (0299) 266136
Atari 44X1 with program recorders. Basic
cartridge. 2 joysticks, also 3 manuals and
Star Raiders. Missile Command and
Pacman cartridges. Worth over £400.
accept £250. J Trainor. 1 Park Drive.
Littlcovcr. Derby DE3 6FY
Atari computer games, swop Asteroids,
offered with instructions for I umbo Jet
Under or Miner 2049ER Offers consi¬
dered (48k DiskiCassette). 021-705
4340
Atari 44x i computer complete with Basic,
joysticks, cassette recorder, various
games, only five months old, £195.
Sunderland 263251
Atari 44X1 including Basic plus joysticks,
paddles etc. £200worth of softw arc. c g..
Star Raiders. Sub Command, will accept
£195 ono. 0786 2370 (days). 0324 812935
I VCS plus 15 cartridges, all hand
controls, including keypads. £250 ono.
01-749 6233 <6-8pm)
Atari VCS with Combat cartridge, six
months old. £55 ono. Also Asteroids.
£15. Space Invaders. £12. Night Driver.
£12 cartridges. 021-358 1010
Wanted — Arrow Chip 15. Anyone
willing to sell me one — please contact
Richard on 0742 255% (days).
me A or B wanted, will buy or swop w ith
Vic 20, cassette unit, joystick. 16K
RAM, Games worth £50. Difference
paid. S. McGowiglc, 15 Nelson Street.
BSC Jeremy Ruston Compiler. £20 or
swop Level 9 software. Julian — 01-435
1738 (after 6pm).
BBC enthusiast wishes to swop Seikosha
GP100A graphic printer, cable and
software for any BBC disk drive. directly
BBC compatible printer Cost new £247
James-(0226) 41753.
BBC Model B. disk interface. Canon
drive, three months old. manuals, soft¬
ware. tapes, disks, utils, games. £650
ono. May split. 01-373 0599 (evening/
weekend)
BBC Model B. disk interface. BBC
recorder, Seikosha GP100A printer,
most Acorn soft and superior software,
little used. Emigration forces reluctant
sale.£575ono Mayspbt. Steve—01-668
8342
BBC 32 k games cassette with six prog¬
rams. Pontoon. Poker. Bridge. Hang¬
man. Simon. Sliding Squares Puzzle, all
mode I colour graphics. only £4 for all six.
kawal Banga. 46 Derby Unc. Derby
DE38UA.
Nr sale . BBC Model B. £335 Tandy line
VII printer. £165 Both for £475. Joe
Griffin—Crewe 820213
Aram BBC 16k ROM - 4k Eprom BBC
Basic PC board lor Atom with instruc¬
tion booklet. £35.01-363 6075
Sharp MZKOk. 48k RAM. green screen,
manuals and games, plus MZ80A Basic
included, as new . buyer collects, £325.
0702 330015 (Southend)
Sharp MZ80K software. first class origin¬
al games. Exocct Missile Attack. Panzer
Tank Apollo and many more Also
proven business packages, tape or disk.
0789 840088205590.
Sharp MZ8l)k. interface, printer and
disks. plus loads of softw are. £999 or will
split, disks suitable for MZ80A or
MZ80B Steve — Basingstoke 771247
Sharp MZ80R micro 48k. complete with
Basic tape and some games, has seen
little use — gone up to bigger system,
price £325 Lincoln 722292
Spectrum software tape for sale. contains
Time Gate Hobbit VU-3D. Rescue.
Penctralor. Orbilor. Flight Simulator.
Gulpman All for £15 0259 214374
(evening/wcekend).
Wanted Spectrum 48K in exchange for 10
speed Tour dc France Raleigh Racer, as
new. can deliver anywhere. 076 46 2522.
168 spectrum brand new. un wanted
gift, still in box. A ho software worth £30.
Will accept £100 Mr MacNiven.089684
249 (after 5pm).
488 Spectrum + printer. + six rolls of
paper. + £140 worth of software. Also
£20 worth of books Togelhcrwoth£400.
Sell fur only £235 Paul-061-973 2229
Spectrum software copier. £2.45. makes
backup copies of your precious software,
easy to use For personal use only —
16k. 48k J R Bnggs. 33 Wessex Gar¬
dens. London NW11 9RS
Spectrum, software, sell or swop, silver-
softs Ground Attack, new. unwanted
gift. Richard after 5.30pm. 080428-321
Specr u m software. Hobbit £11. Arcadia
£4, Galaxians £4. Hobbit includes in¬
structions and the book Huddersfield
(0484 ) 661403. also Krazy kong
(48+ I6K versions) £4.
Specrum 16k Manuals Psion Simdair
Video Hewsons software. little used £80
devizes (0380) 3341
Spectrum club, anyone interested in
starting Spectrum sotware exchange
club (16/48K) send sac a nd list of progs to
Paul Ockcndcn. 61 Alboume close.
Brighton.
Spectrum software: swop or sell. 3D
Tanx. Joust. Horace Goes Skiing. Gala¬
xians. Cruising. Blind Alley. Meteor
Storm, Spectres. Spectral Invaders. Sea
War Steve on 01-452 9436.
Acem Atom 1/2 MH3. 12k RAM. 12K
ROM. 6522 and FP ROMs printer
interface, all manuals and leads, soft¬
ware includes Frogger. Galaxians. Pac¬
man. Invaders. Space Panic. Defender.
Zodiac, will sell £100. (0487) 841064
PCN JULY 28-AUGUST 3.1983
MICROSHOP
Rate*: £10 per single column cm. Minimum size 3 cm. Series discount available Mechanical Data: Column width. 1 column
57mm. 2 columns 118mm. 3 columns 179mm. Copy Dates: 10 days prior to publication.
Contact: Ian Whorley on 01-323 3211.
Software
ADVENTURE GAME
DRAGON 32 & COLOR COMPUTER
“DOMAIN OF THE GODS”
Pit your wits against the Gods o! ancient Greece
Wander through their Domain in search of the
secret of Eternity Can you deteat the Centaur’
Will you get the dark secret ot the Hydra? Will
Neptune give you h« help? Should you trust the
• Random features (No two games are identical)
• Sharp, witty and stimulating
Price: C7.05 (Inclusive)
Chegue® Postal Orders to.
•nterco Associates
162A Ballards Lane
Finchley. London N32PE
Tel: 01-349 3463
Looking for
Spectrum Programs?
ORIC1
CREATE HIGH SPEED PROGRAMS WITH
EDITOR ASSEMBLER: DISASSEMBLER:
IMMEDIATE TESTFACILITY.
Instant, direct, poweriui machine code is available
at your fingertips with this composite program
Auto address and disassembly ol code with control
key back and forth scrolling for input and editing
direct assembly and error message support similar
to programming in basic
Cursor controlled Editor with direct change, insert
and delete with automatic expansion and or
closure ot text Decimal ot Hex input or numerics
with toggei decimal-hex display ot address and
operands Mixed code. data, string inputs up to 255
characters Relocate code function
Full 6502 code plus labels with autobranch
calculation Pseudo-ops ORG. START. END
DEL. EOU DEFTS. DEFW. DEFS. DEF$
Optional high speed hex-display as per a monitor
or lull disassembly with address, hex code label,
mnemonc. operand and symbols table, output to
screen or printer
Complete with Instruction Manual. CIS
Mairtfuun EDITOR
adds extra commands to the machine Change.
Find. Get. Insert. Delete Move Value. Organ.se
Centre and Right Justify Text
Can be used as a word processor database or
program edilor. handling up to 24k on a 32k
machine £tS
RENUMBER resequence Ail or part ol a program
may be renumbered with update of GotoGosub
Then Resume statements £6
MONITOR produces machine code programs on
tape Input, display, record, and test code hard
copy feature Input output em HEX or ASC codes
CIS
MICROPLOT
19 THE EARLS CROIT
CHEYLESMORE
COVENTRY CV3 5ES
TEL: 0203-503038
MtRDERONSPEC...
MICRO CHESS.
ESCAPE..
NIGHTFLITE.
MAZECHASE.
INVADERS_
...£530
...£4.95
...£4.95
...£5.95
...£4.95
...£4.95
ABOVE PRICES INCLUSIVE OF VAT AND P*P SAL
FOR FULL LISTS
Cbeq«ee.P.O.'e crossed and payable to:
VYAJYS H-K.
11 MARGARET AVENUE.
ST AUSTELL. CORNWALL
TEL (0726) 61791
54 RACE ACE H
fO* MOTOR SPORT E*T>«US1ASTS^™
1* STAftlf CROFT. CHELMSFORO ISSfX CM1 ST
LYNX 48K SOFTWARE
C4.75 each inc. pip. o**umea w
QUAZAR COMPUTING,
ns rat p ib asa. mruk. nssa
Other program! oho eoeilobls, teed lor detail!.
A SINCLAIR SOFTWARE HARDWARE
SPECIALIST CONVENIENTLY SITUATED
NEAR Ml AND M62 MOTORWAYS
PHILIP COPLEY HI-FI LTD
6 WESTLEY STREET. OSSETT,
WEST YORKSHIRE
TEL: 0924 272545
HOURS OF BUSINESS TUE-SAT 10.30-5 30
OPEN BY APPOINTMENT UNTIL 8P M
K-RAM
OFFER THE BEST FOR THE ZX SPECTRUM
JCTP»C Ultimata 16 or 48K DM
• •- • ---fj SO
Quasi i6w«8K£SM
S-.-rwrrsn'Wrs K
Artc16or«XC*M
- JO Combw Tons HoeM Pwwtnlor Cooke
W CytafRats liwadars Mad Martha LightCycXas. ETX.
BLACK HOLE
simursio
PLANET Of DEATH
At Folly 30 Turn
THREE GOOD REASONS
WHY WE TREAT YOU THE BEST
All postajj^jucking tm
K-RAM
1« Danbury Hoad. Reinham. El
Tat (04037)55021
STOCK CONTROL
‘STOCK CONTROLLER’ RUNS IN 48K ON
ZX SPECTRUM
400 STOCKLINES
STOCKLINE A TOTAL STOCK VALUE
MINIMUM STOCK LEVELS
CALCULATES SELLING PRICES
PROGRAMMED FOR USE WITH OR WITHOUT ZX
PRINTER. SPECIAL 'BINDER PRINT
FREE POCKET (INDEX FOR YOU* HUNTED STOCK UVtLS OR
SELLINC PUCES
£12.50 incl. V.A.T. & p.p.
DIPAK SOFTWARE.
UNIT 10. TTTCHHCU) INDUSTRIES EAST STREET
NEW LOW PRICES
COMMODORE 64 £199.95 + VAT
1541 DISK UNIT £199.95 + VAT
NEW 1525 PRINTER £185.00 + VAT
SOFTWARE
FOR YOUR
CBM 64
ST-
n.M Matiti
CT 00 Stir Tran
n.M rm
POO Grid Raaaar
ON Ceatrapadt
A NEW ADVENTURE FOR YOUR 64
Dead Man j Gold CS 00 We dare you fc> aaak (he i
—*■—* to tha correct grave
Race Fun. Quackars. Escape M CP .Ci
c —-iger,e«atontyC5 75. wid‘--
5, Fhddan City CS 95
> m Mock from -Imagine Sc
APING JACK £5.50
Ttxa ■ one game *e iuM can t atop otaymg
OeeaePOila
BYTEWELL,
Ml COURT ROAD BAARY S GLAN FB TEW
Tel: (0446) 742 *91
PCN JULY 28-AUGUST 3.1983
83
CASTLEMERE (PTY) LTD.
The largest retailer of BBC Software, books and accessories in South
Africa invite UK producers in the BBC Micro market to contact us for
distribution, sales etc of their products throughout the sub-continent.
Write or phone (from UK dial 01027-21 77-1148)
PO Box 7, Wynberg 7824, South Africa
BUY YOUR SOFTWARE AT A DISCOUNT
20% off Recommended Retail Prices Games and Serious Programs.
tapes produced by reputable software houses including Virgin Games
Bamby Software & Microtax. Send S.A.E. for further details:
TAPESOFT (PCN)
55 Morlcy Road. Twickenham. TW1 2HG
_ 01-892 1909_
Software for
PET SHARP
TEXAS
CIRO SOFT
PRESENT
GAMES FOR ORIC
combining the use at your tor one or more player*
memory end your arcade Random hanarda appear
(km you can recover toe requiring you to change
ifwee lor the foundation your strategy Great ton.
WlnctpAp Wind pAp
COMING SOON
PARACHUTIST Take oN your aircraft, avoid toe ctouds
and drop and land your parachutist to aoore points
FRUI T — Sta ndard fruit machine game with Win Nudge
MlncI pAp for both
CIRO SOFT
I For All Your Micro Seeds
39, High Street, Ralnham, Kent
Tel: (0634) 376702
One 48KC40 Software C1M
SSSSSnaOj m
OK interface IN«
MICROSHOP
I Accessories
MUTH
iwm hr
WADY UNIT win 9 «l, 0 H
DIRECT FROM OUR FACTORY
■r-hgnuanorvicw
THE NEW DELTA 14 HANDSET FO« THE BBC
liHd tor years by DATABASE nmn mts* t*gh Soec.licanon handsels
law 14 pushtMtons 10 lake the strain oW ot your heyDoeid
The DELTA 14 comes mlwo gads One handset will plug into the A d to
are* analogue spring return loyshck plus three ttunon hmchons
The second part is me Of LTA UB 1 adaptor Do. undi connects die 15
JJJjf 0 to me uni port Th* jrues 12 burtons oo 14.3 maim rue
0 connectors 9 »ay temaie plug ot 15 way male plug complete wrlh hoods
tin
DioplugSmy?40deg SO)
9 my lemeie plug moulded lo 1 metre oi 9 core .eld C2 SO
AEMAL SPUTTER SWITCHES a 54
Cheque or POmd, order Pnns tuoM ua.UOf VAT Indus Post unmedkMe dtappft* - 7 day money pac* guarani*
VOLTMACE LTD., PARK DRIVE. BALDOCK, HERTS.
Callmp welcome Monday to Friday Talephona: (0462)894410
GRAPHICS
' An Intelligent Graphics Card which can ha used an
virtually an^compirtar via serial or parallel
atymiiad with the IS i2S tail
' Terminal Emulation giving FULL HALF OUPLEX
and LOCAL MOOES
COMPUTER AIDS
tanaee Cr . Hinckley lerci It 19 OSQ
ORICUSER
PROGRAMS — NEWS — VIEWS
£1 FOR SAMPLE ISSUE
Cheques or PO payable to
ORICUSER
20 WYNFORD HOUSE
WYNFORD ROAD
LONDON N1
BBC COMPUTERS
FROM
FAIRHURST INSTRUMENTS LTD.
WORD PROCESSING PACKAGE £999+VAT
Includes: BBC B' with disc interface, disc drive, daisywheel printer,
Wordwise. all cables etc
BBC ‘B’ Disc Controller Chips, Disc Drives and Upgrades.
ALL FOR IMMEDIATE DELIVERY
We stock the complete range of BBC equipment including, Econets, Printers.
Colour Monitors. Plotters. Graphic Tablets and Software
Apple and Torch Computers available
Phone: Wilmslow (0625) 533741
Dean Court, Oean Row, Woodford Road, Wilmslow.
Games
Books
-f—V SPECIAL OFFER
jO^Star DP 510 80 column
L-V
HOSCOLTO uuararauu nwvs price ■>
SMITH-CORONA TP-1
DAISYWHEEL PRINTER £427
P&P £8. add 15% VAT to total order value
ROSCO LTD
FREEPOST. BIRMINGHAM B20 1BR
TEL: 021-356-7402
★ PABSOIT ★
SHARP MZ80& DRAGON 32
A NEW GENERATION OF
GUARANTEED QUALITY GAMES
EXOCET AnACK BEST REVIEW 83
BOMBER ATTACK; BIORHYTHMS
FOOTBALL POOLS FORECAST
£5.00 per game. Cheques PO to
PAB SOFTWARE SERVICES
37 WESTFIELD CRESCENT
WELLESBOURNE, WARWICK
BOOKS (or ATARI
iompctf anoas
First Boult or ATAJtl £12.95
Second Boot, ul ATARI £12.95
Fust Booh o4 AT ARI Graph*. £12.95
Mapping the ATARI £14.95
Inside AT ARI DOS £17.95
Mechanr language For Beginner. £12.95
OTHia PUBlISHtRS
De Re ATARI £17.00
ATARI Technical Users NtUec £17.88
Making the Mod oi ATARI £8.95
(Aimm lor Ihe ATARI £4.45
AT ARI Camec 4 Recreations £12.95
Has* fsrrtisrs lor Itie ATARI £10.45
ATARI thugrammmgrS 5 Programs £11.75
ATARI Sound and Graph* s £7.541
Some Common BASir Programs lor ATARI
EfTkEkEElt ctlkps
40 The Marin Hate, Chippenham. Witts, SN15
Tel. (0249) 657744 or (0249) 654321
ext. 39.
INSURE
YOUR COMPUTER
Impact damage. Fire. Thefts Trenail Insurance
tor your Computer Equipment:
f 1 lof 1.500cover CSOOpaClO(OMcmss)
C1.500IOC2.500 CtSOOpsCH (access,
C2.500toCS.000 CIS OOpaC2S(»MCessl
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Aah tor dura*
; KG J.Insurance Brokers
T.1103443 *53512545 BT " # *
ORIC-1 OWNERS.
Tangerine created Oric-1 now TUG creates
the rest An independent users group with a
solid reputation tor progressive system
support Monthly newsletters, meetings,
software, hardware, reviews, advice and
lots more We have a proven record of
performance on our system Join TUG.
You'll like us. we do' Send £1.00 + S.A.E.
(A4) tor sample newsletter and details
Tangerine Users Group. 1 Marlborough
Drive, Worle, Avon BS22 ODQ.
PCN JULY 28-AUGUST 3.19K3
85
MICROSHOP
Accessories
Hardware
NEWBRAIN
»s th« launch of
SUPERTYPE
rd Processor lor tha Nawflrain put
imn ThisissimpiytnabastavailatXa
Wa can now supply yo.“■ - ■
for only £999' Th.s ir
___ MS 00
you with* COMPLETE WP SYSTEM
mcludaa tha suparb new Brother
and even SuparType rtsatf Contact us lor a damonatra
CHESS - a suparb opponent with 6 levels of play
Worthbuyinothemicroloc C1495
DATASTORf - Make it your address book, diary, cl tent
info Me etc Choose up to 13 title headings Searching
may be on up to S of these simultaneously' Very
versatile and only C15.00
BANK ACCOUNT - Tha most comprehensive yet the
NEWBRAIN DISCS ARE HERE!HI
contact us aasAHXAm V fo« ears V otuvtav or a suet a
c*md»c»y*temi
<% MICRO LTD.
IF ALL THE ANSWERS ARE YES, AND IT
COSTS LESS THAN £20, BUY IT
IT MUST BE WORDSWORTH!
ALSO AVAILABLE DSkECT. PRICE 07 25 FROM
IAN COPESTAKE
23 Connaught Crescent. Brookwood. Woking, Surrey
GU24 OAN Telephone 048 67 Brookwood 4755
BCPL FOR THE BBC
The most powerful language for
the BBC microcomputer,
includes a full screen editor and
assembler Language ROM. 450
page Manual. Utility disk
Published by Acomsoft — £99.65
also BCPL for any CP/M — £172.50
Richards Computer Products Ltd
Oioe 0X11 9QA
Telephone 0235-850218
SHARP
MZS0A
THE INTEGRATED
SMALL BUSINESS
COMPUTER WITH
INTEGRATED
ACCOUNT PACKAGES
WRITE OR CALL FOR DETAILS
WEST CDflST
PERSDriflL COfTlPUTERS
47 KYLE STREET. AYR HA7 1RS
Phone:0292 285032
Programmers
If you
have written or are
writinganoriginal
machine code
arcade
quality game for the
VIC-20
or the
Spectrum,
WE HAVE AN IDEA
which could make your
game
THE BEST SELLER
IN EUROPE
INTERESTED???
Tel:01-861 1088
NOW.
SOFT MACHINE
A selection of the very best Soft¬
ware, Books and Accessories avail¬
able for ZX81, Spectrum, BBC,
Dragon, Vic20 and Commodore ’64
Microcomputers.
At 3 Station Crescent
Westcombe Park
London SE3
Tel: 01-305 0521
or send SAE lor tree catalogue
(state which computer)
PCN JULY 2H-AUGUST 3.1983
IVllL.nUonU
Program
converters
We need you urgently to convert
programs from: Spectrum to
Commodore 64; Spectrum to the
Vic20; Commodore 64 to the Vic
20; and Spectrum or 64 to Atari.
These conversions are needed
for listing books that we are
publishing later on in the year.
If you are interested
please ring Fi Inchbold
on 323 3211x365
Hit's worth
doing ONCE ...
ICl .with understandable plea¬
sure. has announced in the last
week that it has been awarded a
validation certificate for its
Pascal offering.
Meanwhile in Hobart. Tas¬
mania. Professor ArthurSale. a
leading figure in the develop¬
ment of the Pascal Validation
Suite, has been closely involved
in persuading manufacturers to
go for certificates.
His list of successes includes
several household names. One
occurs more than once, because
more than one of its depart¬
ments has obtained such certifi¬
cates.
The name is ICL.
Another micro first?
Southampton-based Quicksil-
va is flying the flag abroad. It
has written to PCS saying it has
‘become the first British Soft¬
ware House to establish a North
American operation’.
Several British software
houses will be surprised to learn
that Quicksilva has achieved
this remarkable first. Some of
them (with no great success,
admittedly) have operated in
North America at various times
over the last decade.
Perhaps Quicksilva meant to
say it had become the first
British software house to estab¬
lish a North American opera¬
tion this week, month, or even
summer?
NEXT WEEK
i—We look at the communicating Mupid micro from
— A full Pro-Test of a new colour plotter for the
Austria.
• Periphery
IBM PC.
— W e compare two Spectrum versions of Forth.
— Software fantasy for the Atari, Commodore 64,
Spectrum and Oric.
“ — CP/M is the subject of this pull-out guide.
7 ^
■ ■-
Bonus! Extra
We did an injustice to Intcx Data-
log’s new payroll system for the
Commodore Pet Iasi week when we
said il was designed for up to 25
employees. Well, it may be a
package for small business — but
not that small. In fact. Bonus! will
cater for up to 250 employees
. . . sorry.
Number up?
Another dropped digit error! MCP,
the company with the Oric joystick
interface and speech synthesiser
(Routine Inquiries, issue 19) is on
0792-844465.
Vic too quick
In our round-up of word processing
packages for the Commodore 64
issue 16. we reviewed Quick Brown
Fox for the Vic 20 on the under¬
standing it was virtually the same as
the not yet released version for the
Commodore 64. But we now know
that's not the case.
We'll try again, though, when we
get the proper Quick Brown Fox 64
PCN DATELINES
PCN Datelines keeps you in touch with up-coming events. Make
sure you enter them in your diary.
Organisers who would like details of coming events included in
PCN Datelines should send the information at least one month
before the event. Write to PCN Datelines, Personal Computer
News. 62 Oxford Street. London W1A 2HG.
UK EVENTS
Event
DatM
Vmuc
Organisers
8th ZX Microfair
August 20
Alexandra Palace. London
Mike Johnstone. 01-801 9172
Acorn User Exhibition
August 25-18
Cunard International Hotel.
Computer Marketplace Ltd.
London
01-9.30 1612
Computer Open Day
September 1
Draganora Hotel. Leeds
Tony Kaminiski. Couchmcad Communications
Lid,01-7781M2
Video. Audio and
Sep 16-18
Bradford Exposition
R. Cooper,
Computer Show
Centre
J Wood & Sons Ltd.
Bradford 720014
Home Entertainment Show
Sep 17-25
Olympia. London
Montbuild Ltd. 01-486 1951
Computer Open Day Exhibition
September 22
Central Hotel. Glasgow
Couchmcad Communications Ltd. 01-778 1102
Microcomputers in Business
Sep 27-29
Warwick University. Coventry
Peter Bubb. 01-892 4422
Personal Computer World Show
Sep 29-Oct 2
Barbican Centre. London
Montbuild Ltd. 01-486 1951
Computer Fair
Oct 2
The Sir Frederic Osborn School.
R Brown
Welwyn Garden City
Welwyn Garden City 23367
European Computer
Oct 4-7
NEC. Birmingham
Clapp & Poliak
Trade Forum
Europe Ltd,
OVERSEAS
Event Mm
International Micro Computer Aug 2-5
Exhibition
National Computer Business & Aug 16-19
Office Systems
Personal Computers & Office Sep 5-8
Automation Systems Exhibition
Australian Computer Exhibition Sep 13-16
International Peripheral Equipment Sep 13-15
& Software Exposition
Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia
Auckland. New Zealand
Amsterdam. The Netherlands
Melbourne. Australia
Mosconc Centre. Anaheim. USA
Conference & Exhibition Management Services
SDN BHD. 9 A Jalan SS24/8Taman Mcgah.
Pctaling Java. Selangor
Trade & Industrial Exhibitions. 12 Heather
Street. Parnell. PO Box 9682. Auckland
RAI Gehouw BV. Europaplcin 2.1078 GZ.
Amsterdam
Riddell Exhibition Promotions PTY Ltd,
166 Albert Road. South Melbourne. Vic 3205
Cahners Exposition Group SA. 0483 38085
PCN JULY 28-AUGUST 3.1983
Roland DG
The clear
choice for text
and high
resolution
3
Roland (UK) Ltd Great West Trading Estate; 983 Great West Rd , Brentford Middx TW8 9DN
Telephone: 01 -568 4578 Telex: 934470
Announcing more exciting
programs for the BBC.
Acomsoft is the software division of Acorn
Computers, the company that designs! and huilt the
BBC Microcomputer. Here are four more exciting
programs, all designed to get the most from your BBC
Micro.
Ma g ic Carden (£9.95) is a cassette based on
Shirley Conran's successful hook. It’s a problem-solving
program which provides the complete beginner with
instant answers to the questions of what to plant and
when*. Simply tell the computer whether you prefer
a shrub or a flower, the type of soil, light and shade
conditions and n*quin*d flowering time and the
computer will come up with a selection of |M»ssible
plants.
Drau g hts^ Beversi (£9.95)isarassettecontaining
two traditional hoani games for you to play against
tin* computer. Both give a graphic dispkn of the board
on the scn*en and you can enter your moves w ith either
kcyl>oanl or joystick. The gam«*s can 1m* played at
varying levels of difficultv and on the higher l<*vels you
will find the computer tu he a very worthy adversary.
Hopjier (£9.95) is a game on cassette which can
he plaved w ith either key hoani or joysticks. Hop the
frog acmss the busy motorway try ing to avoid four lanes
of fast-moving traffic.To get acmss the river to the
frog's lair you must leap on to the logs and turtles' hacks,
hut beware of tin* diving turtles, tin* crocodile and
the snake.
How to get Acornsoft p ro grams.
If you're a credit can! holder and would like to
buy the pmgrams show n in this advertisement, or if you
would like to know the address of vour neamst stockist,
just phone 01-200 0200.
Alternatively, you can buy the pmgrams dimctly
by sending off the order form below to:
Acornsoft, c/o Vector Marketing. I h-nington Kstate,
Wellingborough. Northants \\8 2RL.
Also use this form if vou would like to receive
the curmnt fn*e Acornsoft catalogue.
Please allow 28 davs for delivery.
® < Credit (lard Holders. Telephone 01-200 0200.
BCPL (£99.65) is a flexible modern stnielum!
language dial's very easy to learn. The package consists
of a BCPL language ROM. a 40/80 disc and a 450 page
User tiiiide. The disc contains the BCPL Compiler,
a Screen Kditor and a 6502 Assembler. BCPI, is
particularh good at handling Input and Output and is
ideal for writing utility pmgrams and to develop games
and commercial packages.
To: Acornsoft, c/o Vector Marketing. I h-nington K.state.
WellinglMiroiigk Northants NN8 2KL
Please send me the following:-
PROORAM PRICK 61 WITH
Cjrdrn K9.««S
TOTAL
$8X04
Ilraughwa Rev-rsi VI.*!.",
$8020
ll.. Lr r VMO:,
$8023
bopi. m<u
SMI .03
Ttmi.
I enclosePO/cheque payable to Acornsoft Ltd.
Or charge my en*dil card,
t lard Number
( \n»-\/ltinrfs/\ isi/Wr»(IMrlr)
Please send me the Acornsoft brochure □
Name___
\ddress_
_Postcode_
Signature_ rewr
V. 1324763 \ VI \.k 215 8123 K'i
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